Rory Burns century anchors England in the first Test at Edgbaston day two

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Rory Burns' maiden Test century led a determined England batting effort on the second day of the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston. 

The left-handed opener, playing his eighth match, battled through an attritional day for 125 not out.

With Joe Root making 57 in a second-wicket stand of 132 and Ben Stokes an unbeaten 38, England reached 267-4, trailing by 17.

England had slices of luck. Burns was on 21 when he would have been lbw to Nathan Lyon had Australia opted to review, while Root survived a James Pattinson delivery hitting off stump but not dislodging the bails when he was on nine.

Those incidents were characteristic of a day when Australia bowled well for little reward in front of another noisy crowd that celebrated every England run and basked in the warm evening sunshine.

Only when they persuaded the umpires to change the ball did the tourists have a period of success, with Joe Denly and Jos Buttler falling in the space of four overs.

But Stokes, given a hero's welcome after his performance in the World Cup final, joined Burns in an unbroken stand of 73 for the fifth wicket.

It leaves England in a strong position, even if they are likely to need a healthy first-innings lead to negate the disadvantage of batting last on a pitch already offering sharp turn.

Speaking before the series, England coach Trevor Bayliss said "you do not have to be Einstein" to deduce that an unreliable top order was their biggest obstacle to regaining the Ashes.

In an unconvincing display against Ireland last week, when England was bowled out for 85 in the first innings, it was Burns who looked the most vulnerable.

Here, though, the Surrey man was the mainstay of a collective England showing of old-fashioned batting values – patience, watchfulness and occupation of the crease.

It meant that the action was much more sedate than the chaos of the opening day, but the home crowd was just as keen to sing for England and taunt the Australians. 

Like Thursday, umpiring errors were a feature, but more forgivable. It was a surprise when Burns was shown to be lbw to Lyon, the noise of the ball hitting stump actually led to Root being given caught behind and a tiny inside edge was not detected when he was given leg before to Peter Siddle on 14. Both were overturned.

On top of England's solid day with the bat, there was also the welcome sight of James Anderson running on the outfield, but there is still no news from the scan on his injured calf.

Australia 284: Smith 144, Broad 5-86 

England 267-4: Burns 125*, Root 57 

England trail by 17 runs