Usman Khawaja has finally conquered England.
The 36-year-old has brought up his 15th Test century on day two of the Edgbaston Test, rescuing Australia after Stuart Broad tore through the top order on Saturday morning.
The England seamer removed opener David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne in back-to-back deliveries early on day two before England captain Ben Stokes knocked over Australian vice-captain Steve Smith moments before the lunch break.
Australia is currently 5-229, with Usman Khawaja (102*) and Alex Carey (2*) in the middle.
ASHES MATCH CENTRE: Edgbaston Test scorecard, stats
The start of day two was delayed by five minutes due to light showers in Birmingham, and James Anderson generated some early swing in the overcast conditions.
Australia started the morning session with three consecutive maidens, eclipsing the total number of maidens from England’s first innings.
Khawaja broke the shackles in the ninth over with an elegant pull shot off Broad, but the England quick returned serve by dismissing Warner in his following over.
The Australian opener attempted a reckless swipe, chopping back onto his stumps and departing for 9 — it was the 15th time Warner has fallen to Broad in Tests.
Labuschagne, the world’s No. 1 Test batter, fell for a golden duck the following ball after fending outside off stump, edging behind to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, who claimed a one-handed grab to his right.
Stokes was willing to experiment, turning to part-timer Harry Brook early on day two.
“What is going on here?” Australian legend Ricky Ponting said in commentary.
Former England captain Mike Atherton responded: “This is Bazball.”
Get all the latest cricket news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!
Khawaja and Smith begun to settle in, picking up length quickly on the docile Edgbaston pitch and combining for a 38-run partnership for the third wicket before Stokes intervened.
The England skipper has been nursing a long-term knee injury, nipped a length delivery past Smith’s inside edge, trapping him on the pads LBW.
A bemused Smith called for a review, but the Australian vice-captain trudged back to the sheds after three red lights appeared on Hawkeye, prompting wild scenes from the stands.
Smith, who had dominated England’s bowlers at the same venue four years ago with twin centuries, was gone for 16.
“Let’s face it, the Aussies were bullied … Bazball is bullying the Aussies at the moment,” former Australian spinner Steve O’Keefe said on Channel 9.
“I just looks like negative cricket, an un-Australian way of playing.
”Australia are on the back foot, tentative with their footwork, and it’s not working for them at the moment.
“They’re doing the complete contrast to what England did in their first innings.”
Smith GONE as England take 3rd wicket | 00:38
Khawaja brought up his half-century early in the afternoon session, reaching the minor milestone in 106 deliveries.
England’s pace bowlers troubled Head with bouncers after the lunch break, but the South Australian wasn’t afraid to attack Moeen Ali, regularly slapping the off-spinner over mid-on.
Head reached fifty in just 60 deliveries but fell victim to Ali moments later, chipping a catch towards mid-wicket to give the 35-year-old his first Test wicket since 2021.
Ali should have had a second scalp when Cameron Green charged the following the delivery, which spun sharply and beat his inside edge — but Bairstow missed the regulation stumping.
The error proved costly, with Green and Khawaja combining for a 72-run partnership for the fifth wicket to slowly chip way at the deficit.
But it was once again Ali who came to England’s rescue, bowling Green for 38 with a beauty that drifted away from the right-hander and spun sharply out of the rough, crashing into middle stump.
Khawaja’s century, his first in England, came in the 69th over with a delicate late cut through third man, roaring with delight after passing triple figures.
The Queenslander pumped his fists and threw his bat away in celebration before removing his helmet and looking to the skies.
MORE NEWS
Talking Pts: Legends ‘shocked’ by ‘un-Australian’ ploy; Stokes call defies Ashes history
Reaction: Cricket world in shock over England’s ‘outrageous’ day one declaration
‘Never many like this’: Aussie legend stunned as Poms victim of ‘freak’ wicket
‘Got us good’: Marsh sparks hilarious Ashes chaos amid Aussies’ smoke and mirrors
LIVE BLOG
Follow the action in our live blog below!