Khawaja’s epic fightback after ‘un-Australian’ collapse

Australia suffered a mini-collapse nearly instantly, when Stuart Broad eliminated David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne in consecutive deliveries, earlier than Steve Smith fell earlier than lunch to depart Australia in a dire spot of their first innings.

It was such a disappointing first session that former Test spinner Steve O’Keefe branded their type of play as ‘un-Australian’, earlier than Usman Khawaja spearheaded a fightback from the vacationers.

Welcome to our stay protection of day two of the opening Ashes Test.

1.25AM: AUSSIES TURN THE HEAT UP ON ENGLAND QUICKS

It’s price monitoring the workload on England quicks.

The second new ball is due in 15 overs, and England nonetheless require six Australian wickets. It’s not outlandish to anticipate there’s nonetheless fairly much more bowling to be executed by the England quicks, particularly if Australia proceed with their, at occasions painstakingly, affected person strategy.

Now the place this turns into attention-grabbing is when it comes right down to the workloads of a few of England’s quick bowlers.

In the trendy sport, the place quick bowlers as prone to miss a sport with a ‘hot spot’ of their again as they’re a ballooning common, workloads are necessary.

And it turns into particularly so once you’re speaking about 40-year-old James Anderson and 36-year-old Stuart Broad. Already each have put in a stable shift, with Broad accounting for 12 overs and Anderson 11 – not far off the 15 bowled by Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s most used fast within the first innings.

Captain Ben Stokes has been a touch-and-go proposition with the ball for a while, as he manages a painful knee grievance.

England have already misplaced pleasure machine Jofra Archer for the sequence, whereas frontline spinner Jack Leach can be out injured, so depth is being examined.

The longer Australia bat, the extra probably Anderson and Broad particularly are going to be in a world of harm after this Test.

1.10AM: FINAL SESSION UNDERWAY

It looks like I’d say this earlier than the beginning of each session this Test, maybe this sequence, however this one is a biggie.

Even permitting for the scoreboard stress being utilized after England’s blazing efforts yesterday, this Test feels fairly evenly poised. But this partnership, between Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green, is vital.

The pair will resume for the ultimate session on day two trailing by 205 runs, however an prolonged session might carry massive runs and if one, or each, of those batsmen are nonetheless standing at stumps Australia can be in a powerful place after two days.

“First innings runs are going to be so important,” says Steve O’Keefe.

“We’re seeing a lot of spin, and I expect that to continue as the game wears on.”

TEA: KHAWAJA HOLDS FIRM IN AUSSIE REBUILD

They are nonetheless on the backfoot, however you possibly can chalk that session up as a win for Australia and particularly Usman Khawaja.

110 runs on the board, and simply the lack of Travis Head halfway by way of the session.

Where England have tried to tear this sport away from Australia with Bazball, Khawaja is preventing again in probably the most typical method doable. It’s been correct Test cricket from the gritty Australian opener.

Head’s dismissal had the potential to massively disrupt Australia’s first innings, however Khawaja has been unmoved.

With a strikerate only a shade beneath his career-rate of fifty, Khawaja is Australia’s rock and he has a fifteenth Test century, simply 16 runs away, on his thoughts.

Cameron Green, too, has been affected person – even cautious – however he’s nonetheless there on the tea break, unbeaten on 21 and is quietly constructing a vital fifth wicket partnership with Khawaja.

The pair have added 40, and with two century-stands to their title already this looms as a partnership that may set Australia up properly within the third session.

12.25PM: DROPPED! KHAWAJA ALMOST UNDONE BY ROOT

Ben Stokes will strive something to purchase a wicket – whether or not that be leaving Moeen Ali on when he’s being plundered by Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, or certainly bringing on the likes of Harry Brook or Joe Root.

Brook was launched into the assault earlier than even Stokes himself, whereas Moeen has simply been changed by Root, for his second stint with the ball.

And it comes oh so near paying dividends, with a flighty ball spinning out of the tough and incomes a thick backside edge by Khawaja.

To name it an opportunity could be harsh on Bairstow – it will’ve been a miracle had he managed to tug that one off – but it surely’s the primary unfastened shot we’ve seen from Khawaja on this session.

The Magic of Bazball.

12.05AM: A TOUCH OF AUSSIE OPTIMISM

Need a midnight pick-me-up?

While it appears grim for the time being for Australia, particularly after dropping their center order enforcer Travis Head, it’s price remembering that England had been 5-176 early within the center session yesterday.

Australia, now, are 4-165 in an eerily related sport scenario.

What adopted for England was a 121-run partnership between Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, at a good clip as properly it should be stated. But Australia would take a look at that and recognise that runs could be made on a flat wicket because the ball will get older.

England are nonetheless 30 overs away from the brand new ball, so this era looks like the perfect for runscoring for the Australians.

11.45PM: WICKET! HEAD’S CRUCIAL CAMEO CRUSHED

Just when it felt as if Travis Head and Usman Khawaja had been wrestling management again from England, the hosts drive a dagger into the Australian center order.

Travis Head, having simply introduced up his 50 by way of aggressive strokeplay and after concentrating on Moeen Ali particularly, mishits an on-drive off the recalled spinner – and finds Zac Crawley lurking at midwicket.

That’s a merciless blow for Australia and ends an 81-run partnership, their better of the innings so far.

It brings Cameron Green to the crease, and he’s welcomed with an absolute ripsnorter of a supply from Moeen, spinning again by way of the gate – and it does an excessive amount of for Jonny Bairstow, who botches the stumping probability.

A life for Green, and a few much-needed luck for Australia.

11.30PM: REDEMPTION DUO DRIVING AUSSIE RESCUE MISSION

“Australia will need to rely on two batters who were both dropped during the last Ashes series on these shores,” says CODE Sport’s Daniel Cherny.

“There’s a redemption arc in here.”

And he’s proper. Usman Khawaja and Travis Head have constructed the fourth-wicket partnership to 62 early on this center session, and throughout the course of their careers there aren’t many gamers who’ve been extra maligned.

Khawaja has been dropped from the Australian aspect seven occasions earlier than his present stint within the workforce – and he was solely given one ultimate probability as a result of Head, who amongst different occasions was dropped throughout Australia’s most up-to-date away Ashes sequence, contracted Covid over the last house Ashes.

Khawaja delivered a double century on the SCG and hasn’t appeared again. Head, too, has constructed on all of his setbacks to change into among the finest counter-attacking batsmen on the planet.

And he’s rising to the event once more, with a half-century in his sights.

11.20PM

The England followers are having fun with themselves, and honest sufficient too. They’ve each proper to have fun.

But that is haunting.

11.05PM: ENGLAND’S BODYLINE PLOY FOR HEAD

England aren’t hiding their plans to unsettle Travis Head – deploying a legside-heavy subject, with Stuart Broad turning straight to the brief ball as his major tactic.

Last week within the World Test Championship ultimate, India loved some success with the short-ball in opposition to Head however maybe waited a bit of lengthy to check him in that trend, ready till he was within the 90s earlier than pivoting to that tactic.

In the tip, it’s how Head was dismissed, caught down the legside.

And you may recall that England have had success in tempting Head into edgy uppercuts to 3rd man, together with on the final away Ashes sequence.

So, naturally, Stokes has a plan for that too. An necessary interval looms for Head.

Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja has introduced up his twenty second Test half-century. It is his first Test half-century in England since July 2013, however Australia wants it to change into his fifteenth Test ton.

10.50PM: AUSSIES UNDER PRESSURE, SECOND SESSION UNDER WAY

There’s no sugarcoating it – this is a gigantic session for Australia.

As Mark Taylor simply stated on Channel 9, Australia don’t have to play Bazball. But they should play the way in which that has introduced this Australian workforce success lately.

The timid strategy throughout the primary 4 classes of this Test has appeared to place England on a pedestal – and allow them to dominate proceedings.

Travis Head might be key to any change in momentum on this match, the fast-scoring left-hander having not loved a lot success in England beforehand however using excessive after a superb 18 months.

He’s Australia’s firecracker within the center order, the star who can take the sport away from the opposition in little greater than session.

Australia desperately want him, and Usman Khawaja, to stem the bleeding. And quick.

LUNCH: ENGLAND’S SESSION AS AUSTRALIA STRUGGLE

England scored practically 400 runs in 3 classes yesterday, however doubtless this would be the session they’ll take probably the most coronary heart from.

On a wicket derided as flat 24 hours in the past, England restricted Australia to simply 64 runs earlier than lunch on day two – and picked up three wickets, together with the prized scalp of Steve Smith, who fell LBW to Ben Stokes, simply earlier than the break.

Smith scored simply 16 off 59 – the antithesis of England’s Bazball strategy – however his dismissal introduced the most important roar from the rowdy Edgbaston crowd of the 2 days to date.

If England can put the handbrakes on Australia’s batters on a wicket the place in addition they rating at 5 an over, perhaps Bazball is really the true deal?

Stokes used aggressive subject positions, threw the ball to part-timers Harry Brook and Joe Root, and claimed the most important wicket of the morning – whereas Stuart Broad continued his stranglehold over David Warner, and was on a hat-trick to place the vacationers on the backfoot early.

Usman Khawaja has been Australia’s rock, and is nearing his half-century, whereas the ultra-aggressive Travis Head additionally made the lunch break.

But Australia has all of it to do, right here. They path by 315 runs and have the world’s top-ranked batsmen, Smith (No.2) and Marnus Labuschagne (No.1) already again within the sheds.

“Yeah, let’s face it: the Aussies were bullied,” stated former Test spinner Stephen O’Keefe on Channel 9.

“‘Bazball’ is bullying the Aussies at the moment..

“Looking at the Aussies, it just looks like negative cricket, an un-Australian way of playing.

“Australia on the back foot, tentative with footwork. It’s not working for them at the moment. They’re barely going at two runs an over and are doing … the complete contrast of what England did in their first innings when they had the chance to bat.”

9.52PM: WICKET! AUSTRALIA IN TATTERS AS SMITH FALLS

An enormous wicket!

In a significant breakthrough for England, Steve Smith is given out LBW nearing the lunch break.

Smith was trapped on the crease by Ben Stokes, who will get by way of the Australian’s defence with minimal motion it should be stated – simply angled again in on the batsman.

It appeared a tad excessive, and an indignant Smith reviewed instantly, however the sight of three purple lights whipped the group right into a frenzy.

Smith should go, for simply 16 off 59 balls, to carry Travis Head to the center.

Australia in a mighty gap, right here. Scoring slowly is ok in Test cricket. Losing wickets is just not. And they nonetheless path by 325 on England’s first innings.

9.45PM: BALL REPLACED AMID AUSSIE RESCUE MISSION

England have gotten their want. The non-swinging, non-effective Dukes ball (bar that bit the place Stuart Broad took two wickets in two balls) has been changed.

After yet one more session with the umpires, the place the ball was examined once more and located to have been bent off form adequate to be retired, Ben Stokes is bowling with a ‘new’ outdated ball.

Occasionally this could have a major impact – as they are saying, you may get good batches and dangerous batches of the balls. Some swing greater than others.

England are clearly optimistic that this one has come from a great batch – or maybe there’ll be one other dialogue with the umpire within the close to future.

There’s quarter-hour to go till the lunch break, and Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja are pretty resolute of their gradual march to the break.

9.35PM: GREMLINS EMERGING IN EDGBASTON WICKET?

There was one thing within the pitch that is likely to be price keeping track of – Moeen Ali has simply bowled a supply that stored dangerously low.

Usman Khawaja did exceptionally properly to maintain it out, and needed to jam down laborious to cease the supply from crashing into his off stump.

But after practically 4 classes of providing little or no for the bowlers, that supply – and the prospect of a little bit of variable bounce – may need piqued the curiosity of the gradual bowlers particularly.

Meanwhile, Khawaja has stored issues ticking over for Australia. He’s as much as 36. Australia are 2-62.

9.20PM: IS SMITH CRICKET’S BAZBALL ANTIDOTE?

If there was any doubt, it might most likely already be confirmed: Steve Smith is the antidote to Bazball.

The world’s No.2-ranked batsman ceaselessly talks about ‘batting in a bubble’, so if there’s anybody who has the flexibility to dam out the noise and fanfare about England’s cricket revolution, it’s Smith.

Blocking the surface noise was central to Smith’s good 144 at Edgbaston 4 years in the past, in his first Test match after getting back from the year-long ban over Sandpapergate.

If that couldn’t faze him, Bazball doesn’t stand an opportunity.

And Smith doesn’t seem to have any intention of making an attempt to match England’s blazing run-rate, both. After 45 minutes within the center, he’s crawled alongside to 9 off 32 balls.

The runs have dried up significantly for Australia, with Khawaja (24 from 55) additionally slowing down.

“Ben Stokes will love what he’s seeing. So far his tactics have won the day,” says Mark Taylor.

But Smith will take a look at the very fact he has a full day of batting forward of him. He’s in no rush.

9PM: GENIUS OR MADNESS? DISSECTING ENGLAND’S BOLD DECLARATION

An hour down this morning, and England have picked up two wickets – placing Australia properly and actually on the again foot.

Does it vindicate Ben Stokes’ determination to declare late on day one? Sacrificing an excellent greater first-innings complete, with centurion Joe Root unbeaten within the center, Stokes introduced England’s batters in with a view in the direction of getting some early wickets.

It didn’t work final evening. It has labored this morning.

So was it Bazball magic? Or Bazball insanity?

Robert Craddock broke it down right here for CODE Sport this morning.

8.37PM: WICKET! LABUSCHAGNE GOLDEN DUCK

Well, properly, properly! Stuart Broad has the group roaring once more – as a result of he’s on a hat-trick!

He goes bang-bang, and the world’s No.1-ranked batsman, Marnus Labuschagne, departs for a golden duck.

Labuschagne chases a wider ship that creeps away from him, and he will get a wonderful contact that’s properly gathered by Jonny Bairstow who goes low and to his proper.

That is a monumental blow to the Australian high order, who at the moment are proper up in opposition to the wall.

Steve Smith survives the hat-trick ball – a tame providing down legside – and now faces a mighty process to rescue Australia’s innings. Have you heard that earlier than? Possibly 4 years in the past, on this actual situation, when he scored twin tons at Edgbaston to open the 2019 Ashes?

Well, his quantity has been referred to as once more.

8.35PM: WICKET! AUSSIE SHOCK AS WARNER FALLS CHEAPLY

A wicket! And catastrophe for David Warner. And, after all, it’s Stuart Broad who will get him.

The outdated nemesis, coming across the wicket, roars in delight after Warner chops on. It’s an expansive shot, most likely the primary he’s performed this morning, and it sends the bails flying and wakes up the group in a giant means.

Warner goes for 9 off 27, and Australia are 1-29.

Despite that, it’s nonetheless a greater begin than they’re used to in current occasions…

“This is the first time Australia’s opening pair has put on more than 18 in a Test on English soil since 2015,” says Dan Cherny.

Meanwhile, England have been doing their finest to persuade the umpires to vary the ball. This one isn’t zipping round prefer it usually does. But these requests may calm down a contact after that wicket.

8.20PM: TOUGH GOING EARLY FOR AUSSIES

It’s wanting a complete lot extra like an Ashes Test in England proper now.

Jimmy Anderson is getting the ball to maneuver away from Usman Khawaja, England have opened with three maidens, and the raucous Hollies Stand is already in full voice – they have to’ve discovered a few early-opening bars on the way in which to the bottom.

Our man on the bottom, Daniel Cherny, paints the image of what’s going through Khawaja and opening companion David Warner.

“The conditions overhead are perfect for England’s bowlers but there has been very little hit of lateral movement so far,” he explains.

“The deck is flat and Warner and Khawaja both look comfortable.

“It took 37 overs for a maiden yesterday. This morning it was 24 balls until Australia scored a run.”

8.10PM: BROAD, ANDERSON GET FIRST CRACK ON DAY TWO

After the minor delay, Stuart Broad opens with a maiden to David Warner.

You don’t see many maidens in Bazball, however given Warner’s file in England – and his troubles in opposition to Broad over time – you observed he’ll be fairly comfortable to get by way of this primary spell earlier than he begins fascinated with lifting the tempo, not to mention a drought-breaking century on England soil.

Meanwhile, on the different finish, it’s the 40-year-old Jimmy Anderson who will get his first probability to impress this sequence, after Ollie Robinson was given the brand new ball final evening.

8PM: SLIGHT DELAY TO START DAY TWO

Don’t panic, cricket followers. But there’s a minor delay at Edgbaston after a bit of bit of sunshine rain this morning.

Skies are clear-ish now – there’s a good quantity of cloud protection, however no rain – however the five-minute delay is to permit groundstaff to dry the outfield.

Could the burst of rain, and the cloud protection, assist England discover some pleasure on this in any other case lifeless wicket?

Does Bazball have management over England’s climate? These are the questions that should be answered.

7.45PM: ‘THEY’RE SCARED’: EX-AUSSIE BATSMAN’S SAVAGE BAZBALL THEORY

Former Australia Test batsman Callum Ferguson has accused England of operating afraid of Patrick Cummins and his world-beating tempo assault – and believes that’s the reason behind Ben Stokes’ plea for flat wickets this Ashes sequence.

The Edgbaston curator delivered on Stokes’ plea and served up a flat pitch, good for England’s aggressive Bazball strategy, which nullified the all-star Australian assault.

England scored at a speedy 5 runs an over in scoring 8(dec)-393, however Ferguson felt that the request from the house aspect’s captain for batsman-friendly wickets was an indication that they had been ‘scared’ of Australia’s quick bowlers.

“I tell you what was a big story I thought coming out of (the first day’s play), was just how flat the pitch was that they prepared for this,” Ferguson stated on Triple M.

“I genuinely believe that they’re scared to play BazBall on a wicket that’s doing anything, especially against our quicks, because we will find something in a wicket that’s got something there.”

And Ferguson warned that the transfer might backfire, as Australia have their flip to bat on the docile deck.

Boasting the world’s No.1 ranked batsman, Marnus Labuschagne, and all-time nice Steve Smith, in addition to the dashing Travis Head within the center order, Australia have the weapons to attain massive on flat wickets.

“I think England should be really concerned,” he stated.

“To see how that wicket played and to have to front up to Steven Smith and a guy as hungry for runs as Marnus Labuschagne, let alone Travis Head.

“I’m really looking forward to watching our boys go about it out there because looking at the fast outfield, not a lot of bounce there but coming on to the bat ok, my goodness we could see some runs.”

7.15PM: GLOOMY SKIES MEET AUSSIE BATSMEN

It was a street yesterday, however will the Edgbaston wicket be equally ineffective to England’s bowlers because it was for Australia’s?

While it doesn’t look to be exhibiting any put on and tear, there’s one factor that’s prone to make Australia’s batsmen a bit of cautious: that outdated English favorite, cloud protection and a little bit of precipitation.

The secret to swing bowling, and Jimmy Anderson’s finest good friend, the clouds have arrived in Birmingham in a single day after a day of beaming sunshine on day one.

6.30PM: CAN ENGLAND GET ANYTHING FROM EDGBASTON ROAD?

England captain Ben Stokes’ daring declaration on the opening day of the primary Ashes Test could have come as a shock to cricket traditionalists, but it surely was “no surprise” to team-mate Jonny Bairstow.

England had been 393-8 at Edgbaston, with Joe Root unbeaten on 118 and in excellent contact after main a revival from a mid-innings hunch, when Stokes referred to as a halt.

With 20 minutes left within the day, Stokes was ready to lose the promise of additional runs within the hope of snaring an Australia wicket within the 4 overs remaining earlier than Friday’s shut.

There was no breakthrough, nonetheless, with Australia 0-14 at stumps after David Warner survived his newest encounter with Stuart Broad, who dismissed the left-hander seven occasions throughout the drawn 2019 Ashes sequence in England.

Stokes has been no stranger to declarations whereas overseeing a run of 11 wins in 13 Tests since linking up with coach Brendon McCullum final yr.

“I’m sure there’s many decisions Ben has made that have taken commentators and other people by surprise, but it was no surprise to us,” stated Bairstow.

Bairstow performed his half in permitting Stokes to make that call with a run-a-ball 78 in his first Test innings since a freak golf accident in August final yr left him with a number of accidents, together with three separate fractures in his left leg.

“I’m delighted to be back out there on the big stage, during the big dance. It’s something you want to be part of and it didn’t disappoint,” he stated.

Bairstow additionally helped former England captain Root add 121 for the sixth wicket, along with his longtime good friend and Yorkshire colleague ending an eight-year watch for an Ashes hundred.

“It was brilliant,” stated Bairstow.

“There are some special traits that he’s got and he does special things.

“As someone who has known him for a really long time, been through thick and thin, ups and downs and lots of different things together, it was an absolute pleasure to be out there with him.”

Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood, who marked his return to Test cricket with 2-61 in 15 overs, insisted the vacationers weren’t stunned by Stokes’ declaration.

“I think once Joe got his hundred and they were playing a few shots, I sensed it was coming, that’s sort of the way they’re playing their cricket at the moment,” stated the 32-year-old seamer.

Hazlewood, again within the aspect after left-arm fast Mitchell Starc was dropped from the workforce that beat India in final week’s World Test Championship ultimate, was adamant Australia had purpose to be happy with their day’s work after dropping the toss on a great batting pitch.

“The wicket was — not a great deal in it, it was very, very slow, not much sideways movement, it wasn’t swinging or anything so 390 (for England) and we’re ‘none-for’ so pretty even I would say.”

Originally printed as Ashes cricket 2023: Follow day two of the primary Test between Australia and England