The Ashes: Australia fight back through Usman Khawaja and Travis Head in afternoon session
- Oscar Sanders
- 17 June 2023
Australia were 188 for four going into the tea break on Day Two of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Australia lost the crucial wicket of Travis Head just before goiing into the tea break at 188 for four on Day Two of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Usman Khawaja and Head upped the ante after lunch, with Moeen Ali expensive and Ollie Robinson largely ineffective.
Australia's batters went past their half-centuries - Head off only 60 balls - while Khawaja overtook his previous best score of 54 in England by twice thumping Moeen back over his head for boundaries.
But Stokes' show of faith in Moeen bore fruit as Head advanced down the track and clipped to mid-wicket, where Zak Crawley gobbled the catch. Head departed for exactly 50 to leave Australia 148 for four.
Jonny Bairstow had kept well, taking a couple of tough catches down the leg-side when bowlers had erred in their line but the decision to bring him back as a wicketkeeper and drop Ben Foakes reared its head when the Yorkshireman failed to gather a stumping chance after Cameron Green had advanced to Moeen.
It was a let-off for the burly all-rounder from what was just his second ball, and England were barely given another sniff for the rest of the session.
Khawaja will resume after tea on 84 not out with Green unbeaten on 21 in Australia's 188 for four, a decent recovery from 67 for three on a pitch with few gremlins.
