Stuart Broad of England delivered a crucial blow to Australia’s victory hopes as the thrilling opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston approached a dramatic conclusion. Australia had been steadily progressing at 78-1 while chasing a target of 281 when veteran paceman Broad dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, the world’s top-ranked Test batsmen, reducing the Ashes holders to 89-3.

At the end of Monday’s play, the World Test champions stood at 107-3, still requiring 174 runs to win on the final day. Usman Khawaja, who achieved his long-awaited Ashes century with a remarkable 141 in Australia’s first innings total of 386, remained unbeaten on 34. This positioned the left-handed opener to become only the second Australian player, after Kim Hughes in 1980, to bat on all five days of a Test match.

Khawaja, however, should have departed early in the innings when he edged a James Anderson delivery, but wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and first slip Joe Root failed to make an attempt for the catch. Khawaja and fellow opener David Warner then settled in, having weathered the criticisms of the pitch previously described as “soulless” by Broad.

The breakthrough England desperately needed arrived when Warner was dismissed for 36, falling victim to an excellent seaming delivery from Ollie Robinson, caught by Bairstow. Labuschagne, who endured a golden duck in the first innings, briefly showcased his skills with consecutive reverse-swept fours off off-spinner Moeen Ali. However, Broad ended Labuschagne’s innings at 13 as he edged a delivery outside off stump and was caught behind.

Steve Smith suffered a similar fate, falling for just six runs to the joyous celebration of the crowd. Instead of sending in specialist batsman Travis Head, Australia opted for nightwatchman Scott Boland, who managed to survive 19 balls and ended the day on 13 not out.

Cummins and Lyon Shine

In England’s second innings, Australia captain Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon shared eight wickets between them, with each taking four scalps, restricting England to a total of 273. England initially appeared capable of building an insurmountable lead, but their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, which has been destructive in their recent 11 wins in 13 Tests, cost them wickets on this occasion.

Facing a formidable bowling attack, led by fast bowler Cummins (4-63) and off-spinner Lyon (4-80), England resumed at 28-2 with both Ollie Pope and Joe Root yet to score. Root displayed his intentions right from the start, attempting an audacious reverse scoop off Cummins but narrowly missing his off stump.

Undeterred, Root reverse-ramped Scott Boland for six in the following over. However, Cummins struck back with a thunderbolt yorker that bowled Pope for 14, leaving England at 77-3. Lyon claimed crucial wickets, dismissing Root and Harry Brook, both on 46, as he approached the milestone of 500 Test wickets.

Brook’s mistimed pull off Lyon resulted in a catch by Labuschagne. Ben Stokes also fell in the forties, leg-before-wicket to Cummins for 43. Australia then focused on England’s tail, but the last two wickets added 44 runs before Robinson was caught in the deep off Cummins.