Birmingham: With a century of great distinction, his first in England and 15th in Tests overall, Usman Khawaja led Australia’s recovery on the second day of the first Test after England had made early incisions taking three wickets for 67. By stumps, Australia, on 311 for five, were trailing by 82 on the first innings with Khawaja’s monumental effort taking him to an unbeaten 126 from 279 balls with 14 fours and two sixes.
Earlier, England could hardly have wished for a better start to the day. The first two balls of the seventh over bowled by Stuart Broad removed David Warner first and then Marnus Labuschagne. Warner on 9, attempted a powerful drive through point but got a thick inside edge on to his stumps
The next ball was edged behind by Labuschagne for Jonny Bairstow to bring off an excellent one-handed diving catch. It was the first time in 39 Tests that the batsman was out for a ‘golden duck’ and Australia were 29 for two in the first half hour, having resumed the innings on the overnight score of 14 without loss.
That was followed by the big wicket of Steve Smith. Ben Stokes, who had brought himself on to bowl 20 minutes before lunch, trapped Smith in front of the stumps in his second over for 16. Smith’s request was a review did not help and Australia were 67 for three just before the break.
Khawaja, who was on 37 at the fall of Smith’s wicket went on picking up the runs. Having got into the forties he went down the pitch to lift Moeen Ali for a straight six and three runs later reached his 22nd Test half century from 106 balls. He then continued to bat responsibly under the circumstances with Travis Head as they both went on to revive the innings.
Head played some fine shots, on reaching 30, he went down the pitch to loft Moeen for four over mid-on. Later in his forties he ran three off Ollie Robinson to square leg to bring up his fourteenth Test half century. Having put on 81 for the fourth wicket with Khawaja, Head fell to Moeen when he chipped a catch to mid-wicket.
Khawaja saw Australia to 188 for four at tea, he was on 84 and Cameron Green was 21. The first ball into the final session was swept for four by Khawaja off Moeen. At the other end, Green stepped out of the crease for a straight hit for six to get into the thirties and with that Australia’s 200 came up on the board.
His innings was ended by a wonderful off-break by Moeen which turned prodigiously, helped possibly by footmarks, but with 38 he had helped to add 72 for the fifth wicket with Khawaja who was on 96 at the time. Green was fortunate when Jonny Bairstow missed a stumping chance before he had scored.
The following over saw Khawaja complete his magnificent century with a lovely wristy late cut for four of Stokes. He had faced 201 balls during his colossal effort. He let out his feelings, jumping with joy and flinging his bat up in the air. He has now hit Test centuries in five other countries as well, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Pakistan and India.
His next partner, Alex Carey showed how competent a batsman he is. Coming in at number seven he played some glorious shots in reaching his fifth Test half century and putting on an invaluable, unbroken 91 run stand with Khawaja.
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