Opening batsman Rory Burns’ century carried England to within 18 runs of a first-innings lead on day two of the Ashes series opener at Edgbatson in Birmingham.
Resuming on 10 without loss overnight, having bowled the Australians out for 284 on day one, England moved to 267 for four at Friday’s close of play.
Questions remained over opener Jason Roy and middle-order batsman Joe Denly’s berths in the XI. Roy perished for 10 and Denly 18. Captain Joe Root, meanwhile, won two reviews – for caught behind and lbw – to graduate to a commanding half-century.
Root’s severe lack of conversion rate, though, continued. He was dismissed by a sharp return catch off seamer Peter Siddle’s bowling – and now has 40-plus Test half-centuries to 16 tons.
Burns remained at the fore throughout and, after an extended period in the so-called nervous 90s, graduated to a maiden Test century. His previous highest score in international cricket was 84, gathered against the West Indies in Bridgetown earlier this year.
The century was also the first by an England batsman, other than former captain Alastair Cook, in Test cricket on home soil since 2015.
Burns will resume alongside all-rounder Ben Stokes on Saturday. The centurion has 125 to Stokes’ 38 not out.
Day one saw former Australian captain Steven Smith strike a first Test century since 2017, while England seamer claimed a five-wicket haul.
Photo: Getty Images
