Post by : Maya Rahman

In a remarkable comeback to the Ashes series, Australia’s Usman Khawaja impressed with 82 runs off 126 balls during the third Test against England in Adelaide. His vital innings provided resilience after Australia stumbled with early dismissals in the second session.

Following lunch, the Australian batting lineup encountered challenges as England's Jofra Archer quickly took out Marnus Labuschagne (19) and Cameron Green (0), reducing their score to 94/4 and increasing the stakes on the middle order.

Though facing adversity, Khawaja partnered with wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who remained not out on 48, and they constructed a fruitful 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This collaboration steadied the Australian innings and provided optimism for a competitive total.

Khawaja's pursuit of a century ended when Will Jacks claimed his wicket with a sweep shot, yet his innings drew admiration for its composure and precision during critical moments.

Prior to this, Khawaja and Labuschagne formed a significant 61-run partnership for the third wicket, allowing Australia to recover effectively from 94/2 at lunch on the first day, thereby laying a solid groundwork for the batting order.

Australian captain Pat Cummins made the call to bat first after winning the toss, a choice that bore fruit since the pitch was favorable for scoring, enabling batsmen to accumulate runs through England’s vulnerabilities.

In a pre-match blow, Australia had to cope with the absence of star batter Steve Smith, who was sidelined due to illness. Khawaja assumed his position, stepping up admirably with a confident innings. Now, the team aims to further capitalize on this promising start as they aim for a strong total against England.

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