The first test of Ashes 2023 is on its final day (5th), Former Australia cricketer Damien Fleming is confident that Usman Khawaja will help the Aussies win the opening Test of the 2023 Ashes at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Earlier, England won the toss and elected to bat first, Batting first English opener Zak Crawley scored 61 runs while Jonny Bairstow added 78 for the team Joe Root scored a maiden 118 runs. Batting second Usman Khawaja smashed 141 runs while Travis Head scored 50 runs and Carey added 66 which took Australia’s score to 386.
In the 2nd Innings England added 273 runs on the board which gave them a total lead of 281 to defend Joe Root and Harry Brook scored 46 runs each Stokes added 43 runs for the team.
Batting second Australia lost 3 early wickets of their crucial players Labuschagne and Smith, Khawaja is at 34* and Scott Boland is at 13*, Australia scored 107/3 at the end of day 4’s play, and the Aussies needs 174 runs to win while the English team needs 7 wickets.
Damien Fleming said:
“I am going Aussies. Usman (Khawaja) is going to get us home. I want (Scott) Boland to get to 30 or 25, that’s like a hundred for a night watchman. I want him to raise his bat,”.
“I think we have got enough there. Travis Head can finish it early. I thought (Cameron) Green and (Alex) Carey batted beautifully but I don’t want it to get down to No. 9, 10 and 11 to be honest,” he added.