First Ashes Test delicately poised after gripping day

Incredibly peculiar scenes successful Birmingham arsenic Usman Khawaja makes his maiden Test period connected English ungraded and celebrates with tremendous heart.

The seasoned left-hander plays a precocious chopped for 4 disconnected the bowling of Ben Stokes and is flooded by emotion.

Khawaja was axed from the Australian broadside aft the 3rd Test of the 2019 United Kingdom Ashes, having scored conscionable 122 runs astatine 20.33, and didn't play different Test until astir two-and-half years later.

He besides lone had a apical people of 54 in Test cricket successful England earlier this innings, which helium made successful July 2013.

He'd notched six Test tons since returning to the XI successful January 2022, but a question people remained implicit his output successful England — until today.

With the calmness and beauteous strokeplay synonymous with his batting, Khawaja has cobbled unneurotic his 15th Test century, playing the pb manus successful the Aussies' fightback from a dire archetypal session.

Since returning to the Australian squad successful the Sydney Test of 2022, Khawaja has piled up 1732 runs astatine 69.28.

He's compiled 7 centuries and a apical people of 195 not out.

Like Chris Rogers astir 10 years earlier, Khawaja is churning retired a upland of runs heavy into his 30s.