Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Australia’s Usman Khawaja made a strong return to the Ashes in the third Test against England at Adelaide. He scored 82 runs off 126 balls, showing patience and skill at the crease. His innings helped Australia recover after losing early wickets in the second session.
The Australian innings had a shaky start after lunch when England bowler Jofra Archer dismissed Marnus Labuschagne (19) and Cameron Green (0) in quick succession. Australia’s score dropped to 94/4, putting pressure on the middle order.
Khawaja and wicketkeeper Alex Carey, unbeaten on 48, then took charge of the innings. Together, they added 91 runs for the fifth wicket, stabilising Australia’s position and giving the team hope to build a competitive total in the first innings.
Khawaja’s potential century was denied when Will Jacks dismissed him with a slogsweep shot. Despite missing out on the hundred, his innings received praise for its timing and composure under pressure.
Earlier in the match, Khawaja and Labuschagne had shared a 61-run partnership for the third wicket. This partnership helped Australia recover from 94/2 at lunch on day one and provided a solid platform for the middle order.
Australian captain Pat Cummins had won the toss and chosen to bat first. His decision looked sensible as the pitch played flat, allowing batsmen to score runs steadily, mostly capitalising on England’s errors.
Australia also faced a major setback before the match as star batter Steve Smith was ruled out due to illness. Khawaja replaced him and justified the selection with his confident innings. The team will now look to build on this start in the remaining sessions to set a strong total against England.
English
