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England rocked by Stuart Broad’s unforgivable sin as Usman Khawaja goes big

Usman Khawaja has carried Australia on his own back towards England’s first innings score but has been given a hand by the unlikeliest of sources.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
8 min read
June 19, 2023 - 10:32AM
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Usman Khawaja’s first century in England has proven to be vital for Australia, saving the day for the tourists in the face of a Bazball onslaught.

Australia finished day two on 5/311 with Khawaja on 126 not out having batted through the entire day, while Alex Carey is 52 not out.

And Khawaja was given a golden opportunity to go really big when on 112 Stuart Broad committed the cardinal sin for a fast bowler.

With the second new ball in his hands, Broad bowled an absolute peach of a delivery, hitting the top of Khawaja’s off-stump.

But as Khawaja began to trudge off the pitch, it was revealed Broad had overstepped.

It was just that close. Photo: Twitter
It was just that close. Photo: Twitter

Cricket fan Behram Qazi posted on Twitter: “Edgbaston is in disbelief”.

SEN’s call of the drama showed it was a full 30 seconds before England had realised it was a no-ball.

“Khawaja gone for 112. Oh, no he’s not. No he’s not. Back to where you started fellas,” commentator Adam Collins said on SEN.

“Umpire Marais Erasmus raises his arm and the Australian fans are going wild. It’s a no-ball. They’ve bowled so many of those today.

“Broad is re-litigating the case with Marais Erasmus. Well, take your story walking Stu.”

England surprised many by declaring late on Day 1 at 8/393 after delivering on their ‘Bazball’ promise to bat quickly.

Australia restarted the day at 0/14 after negotiating a tricky few overs on day one.

But the first session went to England after David Warner chopped on for 9 followed the next ball by Marnus Labuschagne.

While Steve Smith saw off the hat-trick ball, he was dismissed for 16 by Ben Stokes, leaving Australia 3/67.

It was looking dire for Australia and the side needed someone to stand up.

Enter Khawaja.

Playing a patient innings, Khawaja played the anchor for the innings, giving England nothing and playing a chanceless knock.

Coming into the series, Khawaja had played eight matches with one fifty and two ducks, averaging 18.07 with a highest score of 54.

But the Queenslander went well beyond as the England Bazball plan of “flat, fast” wickets flopped.

While the Australian top order previously struggled against the hooping swing on English green tops, the sunny conditions in the middle session took away all the shape and Australia cashed in.

A job well done for Khawaja. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
A job well done for Khawaja. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Ably helped by 50 from Travis Head, 38 from Cameron Green and Carey’s half-century, Khawaja brought up his triple figures with a late cut behind point off Ben Stokes.

Khawaja took off running, screaming as he knew the ball was going for four.

Ricky Ponting said it was the “monkey off the back” for the 36-year-old, who became the second oldest Aussie this century to score a hundred in England behind Chris Rogers.

“I honestly don’t know,” Khawaja told reporters when asked about his celebration.

“It was the culmination of three Ashes tours in England and getting dropped in two of them.

“I don’t read the media but when I’m being sprayed (barracked) by the crowd out there, and as I’m going to the nets, that I can’t score runs in England, I guess it was a bit more emotional than normal.”

Khawaja, who has batted in several different berths, now averages a colossal 68.72 as an opener — the highest by anyone in to have batted in a minimum 20 Test innings in the position.

He added: “Not that I have a point to prove but it’s nice to go out and score runs for Australia and show to everyone that the last ten years hasn’t been a fluke.”

It made Broad’s unforgivable act even more painful.

“It has been a hard gruelling day on a pitch that offered very little but being in this position is a really positive place to be I think,” Broad told the BBC.

Broad said there was “no excuse” for his mistake.

3.19pm — Carey cruises to 50

Alex Carey has ridden his luck all the way to a half-century, bringing up the milestone with an outside edge that went between wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root at first sweep.

He brought it up in just 69 balls and has helped Australia within a hundred of England’s first innings score.

As the partnership nears 100, it’s been a potentially game changing stand between Carey and Khawaja.

2.36pm — Villain’s unforgivable act rocks England

Usman Khawaja has been given a life on 112 after Stuart Broad committed the unforgivable sin for a fast bowler.

With the second new ball in his hands, Broad bowled an absolute peach of a delivery, hitting the top of Khawaja’s off-stump.

But he just barely overstepped, giving the Aussie star the opportunity to go really big.

1.51pm — ‘Monkey off the back’: Khawaja tons up

This is what it means for Khawaja. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
This is what it means for Khawaja. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Usman Khawaja entered this Ashes series with a pretty dire record in England but has made up for it in a brilliant innings.

As the rest of the Aussies fell around him, Khawaja scored his first century in England in a patient performance at Edgbaston.

Before this Test, he had played 8 matches with one fifty and two ducks, averaging 18.07 in England.

His high score was previously 54 in England, but it’s now in the triple figures as the laconic opener stood up to the English attack.

As he hit a late cut behind point off Ben Stokes, Khawaja took off, screaming as he knew the ball was going for four.

Ricky Ponting said it was the “monkey off the back” for the 36-year-old, who became the second oldest Aussie this century to score a hundred in England behind Chris Rogers.

He even threw his bat up in the air.

It’s been incredible stuff from Khawaja, who survived the English onslaught as Moeen Ali bowled Cameron Green with an absolute pearler of a ball which turned sharply off the pitch.

11.54pm — Is the tide turning?

Australia may still be 205 runs behind England and four wickets down but it appears as though the tide just may be turning.

Travis Head was the only wicket lost after lunch for 50 but Usman Khawaja has moved along to 84 not out and Cameron Green to 21 not out as the Aussies took 110 runs from middle session.

There’s still a lot of work to do for Australia but it appears to be turning in the right direction at 4/188 at tea.

11.45pm — Travis Head out after 50

The tide has turned a bit and England are getting a bit of their own medicine in the middle session but it’s finally paid off.

Australia has moved it along with 70 runs in 14 overs since the break.

Head also accelerated after a slow start to fly to 50 off 62 balls.

But his 63rd ball was the issue as he chipped a catch off Moeen Ali straight to Zac Crawley at mid-wicket.
It leaves Australia 4/148 and still 245 runs behind.

11.05pm — Uzzie gets to 50

Usman Khawaja has made it to 50, standing as the anchor to the Aussie innings.

While he’s scoring at less than a run every two balls, he’s stood firm while wickets have fallen at the other end.

Let’s hope it’s only just the beginning.

10.16pm — Lunch couldn’t come sooner for ‘un-Australian’ Aussies

Steve O’Keefe has branded Australia’s tactics as “un-Australian” after tough first session on day two.

Usman Khawaja has moved to 40 not out with Travis Head new to the crease on 8 but David Warner (9), Marnus Labuschagne (golden duck) and Steve Smith (16) all came and went with the Aussies scoring at 2.52 runs per over, half as fast as England batted in the first innings.

With a majority of the Aussie top order already back in the sheds, Australia have been called out of not being aggressive enough and allowing England to dictate terms.

“Yeah, let’s face it: the Aussies were bullied,” O’Keefe said.

“I think even when the batters first came out there were no sweepers when Moeen Ali, who hasn’t bowled a Test ball in over 18 months — he had no sweepers.

“Ben Stokes — there was a big question mark over him and his injury. He was able to settle in and in his second over was able to take a big wicket.

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

O’Keefe doubled down soon after saying Australia’s plan was not working.

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

“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.”

Mark Taylor said Australia doesn’t have to play Bazball but have to play with more intent.

Steve Smith was out just before lunch. Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP
Steve Smith was out just before lunch. Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP

ESPN Cricinfo’s Matt Roller tweeted that Australia hadn’t been rotating the strike like England had yesterday.

In the opening session, England had 54 singles, to just 13 for Australia with the visitors scoring just over half the runs (64) of the hosts (124).

9.54pm — Aussie disaster just got worse

Ben Stokes wasn’t even sure that he was going to bowl this series but has dismissed Steve Smith just before lunch.

It’s the last thing Australia needed as the superstar was sent back to the pavilion for 16.

It was a fairly innocuous ball from Stokes, but Smith went well back in the crease and missed the ball.

He looked perplexed when umpire Marais Erasmus’ finger went up but he was dead to rites — much to the joy of England.

Stokes had every right to be confident. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Stokes had every right to be confident. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

9.00pm — ‘What is going on here?’: Bazball move baffles

England have Australia 2/39 down so were keen to press their advantage.

But the move has perplexed as batter and right arm medium Harry Brook came on to bowl.

And Brook is very medium.

“What is going on here?” Ponting said.

“This is Bazball,” Atherton laughed.

Ponting was baffled as Brook sent a ball down at 68 miles or 110km/hr.

But his first over to Steve Smith only went for one run in the over with Atherton and Ponting discussing the fact that it was clear Smith just didn’t want to get out to Brook.

Bazball is crazy!

8.35pm — Warner gone, bowled Broad

It’s happened again.

For the 15th time in his career, Stuart Broad has taken the wicket of David Warner as the Aussie opener dragged a wide ball back onto his stumps.

It’s gotten much worse as the World’s No. 1 ranked batsman Marnus Labuschagne followed the next ball.

A wide ball that he would have left every other day of the week drew him in and Labuschagne gave Bairstow a low catch behind the stumps.

It’s a disastrous start for the Aussies.

8.05pm – Covers on at Edgbaston

The covers are coming on and off at Edgbaston with some light rain and overcast conditions expected for Day 2.

There is quite a bit of cloud cover, which could produce some swing and favour England’s fast bowling cartel of Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson.

The covers have come off at play should start soon.

Overcast conditions on Day 2. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Overcast conditions on Day 2. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

England deliver on Bazball promise

Aussie cricket fans got their first taste of Bazball on day one of the Ashes and it’s fair to say it was a new experience.

Joe Root was still at the crease 118 not out when Ben Stokes called it an innings – the earliest declaration in the first innings of an Ashes Test in history.

There might be a few question marks around that decision but England’s intent is clear.

Mark Taylor was critical of the decision to leave Mitchell Starc out of the Australian team but Josh Hazlewood (2/61) was the best of the visiting quicks and struck first to remove Ben Duckett cheaply.

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But Crawley punished a wicketless Pat Cummins (0/59) and a surprisingly expensive Scott Boland (1/86 from 14 overs), so Nathan Lyon was relied upon heavily – and delivered with regular breakthroughs.

Lyon (sixth) is still behind Cummins (third) in the ICC Test bowling rankings but there’s little doubt he’s Australia’s best bowler at the moment.

Lyon finished the first innings with figures of 4/29.

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