Ashes 1st Test, Day 2, Talking Points – Khawaja, Broad steal the day
The second day of the Edgbaston Test witnessed another dramatic contest between famed rivals England and Australia. The home side sent the crowd into delirium after Stuart Broad bagged David Warner and Marnus Labuschange on consecutive deliveries in the morning session.
But it was the wicket of Steve Smith off Ben Stokes’ bowling on the stroke of Lunch that looked like a severe blow on a flat surface. However, the visitors hit back with a terrific partnership between Travis Head and Usman Khawaja.
Just when it looked like Australia would grab a firm hold of the proceedings, Head fell to Moeen Ali to delight the home crowd. Despite his departure, Khawaja continued to pile the runs from the other end, registering a marvellous century to deflate the hosts. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey played brisk innings in a healthy partnership with Khawaja to eat a major chunk of England’s advantage in the final session.
Here are the talking points from Day 2 of the 1st Test
Broad’s bunny
There is a sense of inevitability when David Warner faces off against Stuart Broad in Test cricket. Warner, who did well to saw off the threat of Broad in the first couple of overs, couldn’t resist playing a booming drive, losing his wicket in the process as he chopped on. It was the 15th time that Warner was dismissed by the veteran English pacer in red-ball cricket.
The bat goes flying
After a couple of failures in the WTC Final against India, Aussie opener Usman Khawaja was back to his usual best on the second day in Birmingham. The southpaw compiled a chanceless century at Edgbaston, the first by an Aussie since Mark Taylor in 1997. He celebrated his century in a unique style, flinging his bat in the air in an outpour of emotions. He stood unbeaten on 126 off 279 at stumps after being reprieved by a Broad no-ball that kept him alive despite being knocked over for 112.
A day of attrition
If the first day of the Ashes opener saw gunslinging action from the English batters, the second day witnessed a classical theatre of red-ball cricket. England took the early advantage through Stuart Broad, with Australia hitting back with solid partnerships. Although it wasn’t as entertaining as England’s ‘Bazball’, the day was laced with drama, be it Moeen Ali’s magical delivery or Usman Khawaja’s tenacity. At the end of the day’s play, Australia finished 311/5, 82 runs adrift of England’s 393 first innings tally.
