England vs Australia LIVE: Cricket scorecard and Ashes updates from day three at Edgbaston
The first Test of the 2023 Ashes series is delicately poised on three arrives at Edgbaston. Following England’s declaration on the first day, Australia dug in to move within 82 runs of the hosts’ target of 393 by stumps on day two.
Usman Khawaja led the fightback and begins the day 126 not out, with Alex Carey (52*) well set alongside him. England have taken wickets though as Stuart Broad was once again in the thick of things conjuring a big double breakthrough before gettting through Khawaja’s defences only to reprieve the opener with a careless no-ball.
Resuming on 311-5, the tourists will feel confident about securing a first innings lead but they will have to get through a tricky session this morning. The relatively new ball should nip around a bit and with Khawaja and Carey being the last of the recognised batters England will be hoping to run through the lower order quickly.
Follow the score and latest updates from Edgbaston below:
England vs Australia: First Ashes Test, day three updates
Usman Khawaja’s unbeaten century helps Australia reach 311-5 at the end of day two
Australia trail England by 82 runs with five wickets remaining
Has Bazball met its match? Traditional Australia and new-school England locked in Ashes tussle
Khawaja makes England pay
10:13 , Mike Jones
Usman Khawaja opened his account in the 2023 Ashes series with a brilliant and hard-fought for century. He scored an unbeaten 126 to leave Australia in the game, just 82 runs behind England’s 393.
Khawaja has the highest average as an opener in Test history (68.72, min. 20 innings as opener) and scored 34% of his runs in the ‘V’ straight down the ground yesterday.
His career average for runs in that area is just 14%.
Has Bazball met its match? Traditional Australia and new-school England locked in Ashes tussle
10:07 , Mike Jones
A truly great Ashes series is one that ebbs and flows, with both sides having their moments, having their periods of success and ultimately playing out Tests that are closely-fought right until the end.
Australia had declared in the build-up that they would see how ‘Bazball’ would fare against their bowling attack, in particular their prolific seam attack.
But England laid a marker down on the first day, powering to 393-8 before a shock declaration, at a scoring rate of more than five an over. It was a day that entertained, the sun was shining, and the Ashes had started with a bang.
Has Bazball met its match? Australia and England locked in Ashes tussle
England vs Australia: First Ashes Test, day three
09:56 , Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of day three of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
We’re set for yet another fabulous day of cricket as Australia try to chase down England’s first-innings total of 393 after Ben Stokes’ bold declaration late on the opening day.
Usman Khawaja led the tourist’s fightback on Saturday with an old school century and finished day two unbeaten on 126 not out. He was backed up by half-centuries from Travis Head (50) and Alex Carey (52*) after England had dismissed the dangerous Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith cheaply.
The visitors now trail by just 82 runs with five wickets in hand but England will be confident of taking a couple of early wickets this morning and getting through the rest of Australia’s batting line-up. Should Pat Cummins’ men manage to get through the first session though, they’ll have an easier time of things this afternoon as they look to build a big first innings lead.
Stick around and we’ll have all the action from day three of the first Ashes test with play getting started at 11am.
