Rory Burns celebrated a maiden Test century as he defied Australia’s bowlers for an entire day to hand England the advantage on day two of the Ashes at Edgbaston.
Burns rebuffed the tourists for six and a half hours and faced 282 balls for his unbeaten 125, an old-fashioned opener’s innings boasting the flinty resolve England have been crying out for since Sir Alastair Cook’s retirement almost a year ago.
Australia allowed him one obvious reprieve, failing to refer an lbw shout that would have ended his stay at 21, but nothing should detract from the deep reserves of character he leaned on to see his side to 267 for four – just 17 behind.
Tweet of the day
What is matthew wade doing !?!
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) December 18, 2012
Continuing the theme of ‘there is a Jofra tweet for every occasion’, many were quick to pick up on this gem from seven years ago when Matthew Wade’s part-time all-sorts were introduced into the attack as Australia sought to shield their frontline bowlers for the new ball. Wade’s solitary over, in which he reached speeds in the mid-70mph, yielded seven runs, one of them a wide after barely landing the ball on the cut strip.
Snap shot
Since the last century by an England opener (Keaton Jennings v Sri Lanka at Galle):
•Nine months (Nov 8, 2018)•Eight Tests•26 innings by openers•Three half-centuries•Average of 19.52 before this match•Highest score was 92 by Jack Leach
— Tom White (@TomWhitePA) August 2, 2019
England’s problems in settling on an opening pairing following the retirement of Andrew Strauss seven years ago have been well-publicised. Burns’ position before this week came under scrutiny, having averaged 22.28 in his first seven Tests, but he went some way to cementing his place here. His innings was the first time an England opener other than Sir Alastair Cook had registered a ton on home soil since May 2015.
Paine-ful use of DRS
Top of the shots
Rory Burns … That’s what you call a Proper Test match hundred … Incredible mentality & technique shown … An #Ashes centurion … ?
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 2, 2019
Not the most stylish or dashing of batsmen, Burns showed a healthy dose of application a week after England were chided for their meek collapse against Ireland at Lord’s last week. His stoic knock was not without aesthetically pleasing strokes though, the best of his 16 fours a crisp drive off Pat Cummins which bisected the fielders at wide mid-off and extra cover. The stroke took him into the nervous 90s, where he stayed for 54 minutes and 34 balls before pushing the next into the leg side, completing a quick single despite Pattinson’s direct hit at the non-striker’s end from mid-on.
Catch of the day
A very smart catch to end the captain’s innings.
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/1J6wGj3xwv#Ashes pic.twitter.com/Bw6wmKeL2Q
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 2, 2019
Peter Siddle is a wholehearted competitor and rarely lets anyone down. The 34-year-old edged out Josh Hazlewood for the final seam bowling spot and went some way towards justifying his selection with a battling 44 to help Australia to a competitive total. He was up to his usual tricks on Friday, probing away and finishing as Australia’s most economical bowler, leaking a miserly 43 runs from 21 overs. However, his most memorable contribution was a one-handed grab to halt a 132-run stand between Burns and Joe Root, whose 57 was ended when a loose drive led to Siddle flinging out his right mitt and holding on to a stunner.
What’s next?
August 3: England v Australia, day three of the first Ashes Test, Edgbaston
