Ashes 2023: David Warner, Usman Khawaja put Australia in good position on rain shortened day

The Aussies looked done on day three, but found new energy and renewed hope of a historic series win on day four at The Oval.

David Warner plays a shot on day four of the fifth Ashes cricket test match .

Hang on a minute, maybe this Test is not done after all.

A steady opening partnership from David Warner and Usman Khawaja saw Australia bat past lunch, slice a large chunk off the deficit and allow Australians to dream of taking the series after all.

When weather intervened at 2.45pm local time Australia needed 249 to win with 10 wickets in hand and one day to play.

It is possible to dream of the first series win in England since 2001.

There is rain predicted for Monday, but not as much. If the visitors get the runs they win the series 3-1, if it washes out without a result they win 2-1 and if they lose they at least still get to keep the urn.

Play will be extended to 98 overs on the last day.

Warner is 58no and reconsidering his decision to retire now that his nemesis Stuart Broad has retired, or at least that was the line from assistant coach Michael Di Venuto after play.

Khawaja is 69no and brought up his 5000th Test run in the innings. He is also the highest run scorer in the series and an extraordinary career record as opener (seven centuries and an average of 62).

David Warner smiles after managing to avoid being hit by a loose delivery from England's James Anderson. Picture: AFP.

Di Venuto was more serious when he said that the side believes it can win this with a few of the senior players keen to get an Ashes series on their CV.

“It was an outstanding start form our two openers that sort of put some starts together throughout the series, but to get over a hundred runs start when we are chasing 380 was outstanding,” he said.

England, understandably lived in hope, the scoreboard is counting down the result via wickets not runs, but soon it may have to make a switch.

What a time for Warner and Khawaja to post their first hundred partnership of the tour. In fact, it is the highest opening partnership for either side in the series and the highest by an Australian pair since Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer put on 185 at the same venue in 2005.

Both looked freed from consequence as they set about their task, surrounded as they were by England’s passing out party.

Yesterday the Australian bowlers and fielders looked out of petrol, today it was England’s turn in the field and they too could not lift. It seems obvious that it is easier to bat when exhausted than to do the opposite.

The day began as if the home side was riding into Paris with a champagne flute in hand. They may be premature celebrations.

The Australians, whose sportsmanship through this series has been understated and relatively unacknowledged, formed a guard of honour for Stuart Broad who announced the evening before that he was done.

Such is only to be expected, but there is a solid camaraderie between the two sides that belies the belligerent bellyaching of supporters and commentators around it.

Broad held back his entrance to the field and then shared a joke with Mitch Marsh before breaking off to join Jimmy Anderson at the crease.

Mitchell Starc dismissed any sentimentality by slamming the third ball of the morning into the soon-to-be retired quick’s body.

Broad’s batting deserves respect if only for the fact he suffered a terrible facial injury when struck by Varun Aaron bouncer in 2014 and was able, after some struggles to bat again with an attractive abandon.

Usman Khawaja and David Warner posted their first century of the tour. Picture: AFP.

Before coming out to bat the night before Zak Crawley had said to him ‘you won’t miss putting your pads on will you?’. Broad said his reply was firm: ‘nope, not at all’.

Truth be told, however, he was enjoying himself and he triggered scenes approaching mass hysteria when he smashed Starc for a riotous six off the last ball of the over. It proved to be the last shot he will play in Test cricket.

(Obscure stat for you, the only other Test cricketer to hit a six off the last ball he faced was Wayne Danial at Port of Spain against Australia back in 1984).

The crowd had earlier launched into a rousing version of Happy Birthday for the 41-year-old James Anderson, who was given the new ball by Ben Stokes in lieu of a gift, and had earlier been out LBW to Todd Murphy four deliveries into the second over of the day.

Murphy’s 4-110 deserves acknowledgment, he wriggled out Ben Stokes and Joe Root and cleaned up two tail enders on a track that didn’t offer much for the off spinner.

Usman Khawaja and David Warner walk off the field for lunch. Picture: Getty Images.

Starc’s 4-100 also should not pass without comment. He is now, as previously noted, the leading wicket taker in the series.

Moeen Ali showed up for the party and even tried to bowl a few from the Vauxhall end himself but was clearly restrained by the groin injury he picked up batting on the first day of the match.

The pitch was flat, the ball did not show up for work and the conditions, though dark and cloudy, not too back for batting. It is remarkable how little wear the Oval wicket is showing four days into the match, there’s been some inconsistent bounce, but mostly it’s been quite a decent platform for the batters.

Mark Wood, curiously, was not introduced into the attack until the 33rd over and left it after delivering the 37th.

He is not without success against Khawaja and is just the sort of bowler to hurry up both the veteran openers.