Khawaja revels in late lifeline as Australia 194-5 in 3rd Ashes Test

AFP/APP

Adelaide, Australia: Usman Khawaja hit a defiant 82 on Wednesday after being thrown a lifeline at the third Ashes Test in Adelaide as England fought hard in searing heat to stay in the contest at tea on day one.

Batting after captain Pat Cummins won the toss as temperatures topped 36 degrees Celsius, the hosts were 194-5 at the break, after the shock news of Steve Smith being ruled out with illness.

At tea, Alex Carey was not out on 48, with Josh Inglis on five.

Smith, who has more than 10,000 Test runs, had been feeling unwell in the lead-up but was nevertheless named in the side on Tuesday. He was on the field during the morning warm-up but left around 20 minutes before the toss, shaking his head.

His absence gave an unexpected chance to Khawaja, who turns 39 on Thursday and had been overlooked as opener in favour of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald, with many fearing it spelled the end of his career.

Khawaja, who missed the second Test in Brisbane after suffering back spasms in Perth, grabbed his chance with a stoic knock after being handed a reprieve when dropped on five.

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He was eventually dismissed just before tea, slog-sweeping to Josh Tongue in the deep off the spin of Will Jacks.

A blistering first over after lunch from Jofra Archer left Australia reeling. He removed Marnus Labuschagne for 19 with his first ball after the interval.

Two deliveries later, Cameron Green was also gone, with Brydon Carse collecting catches at midwicket to dismiss both batters.

Weatherald earlier fell for 18 and Head for 10.

Silence for Bondi victims

Players from both teams wore black armbands as a mark of respect to the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting.

A moment of silence was held before play, with security tightened at a packed Adelaide Oval where flags were flying at half-mast.

After eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane, England must win to keep the series alive, while a draw would be enough for holders Australia to retain the Ashes.

Weatherald was in fine early touch, clobbering a series of boundaries off Carse, who was too short and wide.

But the opener’s gung-ho approach cost him against the pace of Archer, who fired down a bouncer and induced a top edge to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Head followed in the next over, with Zak Crawley taking a sensational low catch to his left at short cover off a fuller delivery from Carse.

That brought Khawaja to the crease, and he was fortunate to survive when Harry Brook dropped a sitter at second slip.

Labuschagne later lobbed an easy catch to Carse on the return from the interval, and Green incredibly repeated the feat in one of the softest dismissals.

It was not a good look for the all-rounder, who a day earlier became the most expensive overseas buy in Indian Premier League history after a bidding war.

Khawaja brought up his 28th Test fifty to loud cheers from the crowd, but his bid for a first century since his 232 against Sri Lanka nearly two years ago was ultimately dashed.