The Ashes: Rory Burns grabs maiden Test century with England in control after day two – The Sun

IF you’re going to score a maiden Test century, you might as well do it on the glorious stage of an Ashes series.

That’s what Rory Burns achieved yesterday as a lifetime of dreams came to the magnificent, marvellous moment of raising his bat and punching the air.

If Burns lives to be 100 and never scores another run, he can always say he has made a century against the Aussies.

And his innings was fundamental to England seizing control the First Test and perhaps even the series.

Burns is a fully paid-up member of the ugly left-hander’s club that includes Alastair Cook, Graeme Smith and Shiv Chanderpaul. It might not have been a thing of beauty but it was a highly resourceful knock.

Burns’ place was under pressure after scoring six and six against Ireland last week and with a career average of just 22 across his seven-Test career.

But his patience and concentration rarely wavered and, after batting throughout day two, he had scored 125 not out as England advanced to 267-4 – just 17 runs behind Australia.

His twitches and ticks, fiddles and fidgets before each ball – not to mention his quirky glance towards mid-wicket as the bowler runs in – make Burns looks like he has ants in his pants. Which is better than sandpaper, of course.

But Cook will tell you – it’s not how, it’s how many.

Burns has already achieved something Cook never managed – a home Ashes hundred.

The Surrey captain had a few uncomfortable moments such as being given not out on 21 when replays showed a ball from Nathan Lyon was hitting the stumps. Shame the Aussies didn’t review the lbw appeal.

And he was struck a glancing blow on the helmet as he attempted to duck a Pat Cummins bouncer. He needed a new lid.

Burns clipped efficiently off his pads – he favours the legside – and scored plenty of runs via thick edges through third man.

Burns might never be a great batsman or receive many marks for artistic impression. But his temperament has been shown to be strong and there is no reason why he can’t have a decent international career.

He played and missed countless times but was always able to focus on the next ball.

After 54 minutes in the 90s and ten deliveries on 99, Burns’ hundred arrived with a sharp single to mid-on.

A review for a run out took place on the giant screen but Burns knew he was home and was celebrating and hugging partner Ben Stokes when ‘not out’ was confirmed.

This was an old school day of Test cricket – runs coming at three-an-over and only four wickets falling. By the end, however, England were emphatically on top.

It didn’t start so well when Burns’ great mate Jason Roy edged to second slip and departed for ten.

But Burns and Joe Root put on 132 for the second wicket as Root’s self-promotion to No.3 helped prevent one of England’s top-order collapses.

Root enjoyed one slice of outrageous luck when he was given out caught behind for nine off James Pattinson. Root knew he hadn’t touched the ball and reviewed the decision. Replays showed it clipped the off stump, which wobbled, but somehow the bails stayed on.

On 14, Root was adjudged lbw to Peter Siddle and this time replays showed he had inside-edged the ball onto his pad. Root survived again.

Root was eventually caught and bowled by Siddle and then a ball change after 60 overs – the original had apparently gone out of shape – brought sudden swing and a couple of wickets.

Joe Denly was lbw and Jos Buttler caught at third slip.

But Stokes joined Burns and their partnership has so far yielded…. Runs. Stokes, the star of the World Cup triumph, was striking the ball with impressive authority and will fancy his chances of a big score today.

Source: Read Full Article