Usman Khawaja’s Astonishing Feat in the First Ashes Test at Edgbaston
Australian batsman Usman Khawaja played a crucial role in the first Test of the 2023 Ashes against England. Despite top-ranked batters Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith failing to make an impact, Khawaja remained steadfast against the English bowlers and led his team to victory.
Also Read: England’s Top-Order Woes in First Test Match of Ashes 2023
Usman Khawaja scored 141 and 65 in the two innings of the first Test of the Ashes 2023. His innings helped Australia to chase down a target of 281 and win the match by two wickets on June 20.
This was a remarkable performance, given Khawaja’s poor record in England, where he had previously averaged only 17.78 in Tests. His century in the first innings was his first in England and his 15th overall in 62 Tests. Khawaja’s performance has set the tone for the rest of the series, and he will be a key player for Australia as they look to win the Ashes in England for the first time since 2001.
Only Ricky Ponting and Usman Khawaja have faced 500 deliveries in a single Test match among Australian batters. He achieved several milestones during the match, including becoming the 13th player to bat in a Test match on all five days. Khawaja played a total of 518 balls throughout both innings and batted for a duration of 796 minutes in the whole game, which was the fourth-longest in Ashes history.
Usman Khawaja scored 882 runs in 15 matches against England, averaging 47.62. Khawaja’s 141-run innings in the first Test in Birmingham pushed his Test runs against England over 1000 for the first time. Khawaja’s second-best record is against Pakistan, with 992 runs in eight Tests. He is the third Australian Test player to score over 1000 runs against England, after Steve Smith and David Warner.
Usman Khawaja became the second Australian opener to score a century and a fifty in the same Test match in England after Mark Taylor in 1989. Khawaja’s 141 in the first innings and 65 in the next ended the 34-year wait for an Australian opener to achieve the landmark. Apart from Usman Khawaja, Andrew Hilditch, Rick McCosker, Bill Lawry, Arthur Morris, and Warren Bardsley are the other Australian openers to score a fifty and a century in the same Test match.
