NEWS
Follow UsEngland and Australia perhaps played the Test of the year and one that would go on to mark its special place in the annals of the game for a really long time. An unbeaten ninth-wicket partnership of 55 runs between Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon helped Australia win the opening Test of the Ashes 2023 in Birmingham - one that had an eerie resemblance to the Edgbaston Test of 2005 for a long duration.
Usman Khawaja was named the Player of the Match for his brave innings of 65 and 141 runs, which were the fulcrum of Australia’s win. Khawaja stated that the Test was one of his favourites ever.
"Not going to lie, I was absolutely s***ing myself for the last five minutes there,” Khawaja said in the post-match presentation. “It's so heart-wrenching. An unbelievable game. I watched 2005, stayed up late. We had Stokesy play an unbelievable innings last Ashes, but this is definitely one of my favourite Test matches. I was watching it in the changing room on a delay, I had to stay there.”
Khawaja was ecstatic about his personal contribution to the game, which played a big part in Australia winning the Test. He put that as one of his favourite innings, which was made sweeter by the fact that they secured the momentum upfront.
“It's right up there, an Ashes, I've had some hard times here. The ebb and flow, no one had the game until the end. One of my favourite Tests. Tough work [on previous[ tours but nice to get off to a good start on this one. Four more Ashes Tests left,” the left-handed opener added.
