Smith credits Khawaja for momentum shift

Australia's middle order concerns have eased after Matthew Wade cracked a brilliant century and Travis Head scored 51 in the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

And twin century-maker Steve Smith credited the free-wheeling innings of Usman Khawaja late on day three as the moment Australia shifted the first Test into their favour.

Wade hit 110 – his third Test ton and first against England – as the day finished with the hosts closing on 0-13, a deficit of 385 in response to Australia's mammoth second innings total of 7-487 declared.

They must now bat out the whole final day to prevent Australia taking a 1-0 series lead.

After the early loss of openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, Australia started to gain the ascendency in the match with a 48-run partnership between No.3 Khawaja and Smith in the final session of the third day.

Khawaja, who came in after three overs with Australia 1-13 following the exit of Warner for just eight, struck six boundaries in his innings of 40 from just 48 balls.

Having hit a superb 142 in the second innings over Sunday night, Smith said the attacking intent from Khawaja had laid the early foundation for Australia's day-four run-spree. 

"We gained a lot of momentum (on Saturday evening)," Smith said today. 

"I thought Usman played a really good innings, he came out really positively and I think that’s where the momentum changed. 

"And then Travis Head was really good today and Matthew Wade was exceptional."

Khawaja's exit, having inside-edged a Ben Stokes delivery in the 19th over, left Australia at 3-75 and still in arrears of England's first-innings advantage of 90. 

But Head's measured 51 eased that pressure while Smith went on to score 142, his second ton of the match, to continue his torment the English bowlers who've now seen him chalk up eight centuries and pass 200 twice against them since 2013.

Smith and Wade's knocks effectively ended England hopes of winning the game, a remarkable feat considering Tim Paine's side had slumped to 8-122 on day one.

Wade enjoyed an excellent Sheffield Shield campaign for Tasmania last summer, scoring 1021 runs at an average of just over 60 and also making three centuries for the Australia A team earlier in the tour.

However, he was one of many who struggled in the intra-squad warm-up match in Southampton, posting scores of 10 and seven before he was dismissed for one in the first innings of his Test return.

Team mentor Steve Waugh hinted the squad may need to look at picking a fifth bowler for the second Test at Lord's with allrounder Mitch Marsh in the frame to fill the role.

But Wade ended any discussion about his place at No.6 with a buccaneering knock that included 17 boundaries.

"I certainly felt that my game at a stage where I could perform at this level," Wade said.

"It's as confident as I've been coming into a Test match, that's for sure. But that's the way we want it to be in Australia.

"We want guys piling on a lot of runs at first-class level to get an opportunity to play Test cricket and when you get that opportunity to try and take it."

Head's half-century from 116 balls in addition to the valuable 35 he scored in the first innings vindicates the decision of the selectors to include him in the team.

Like Wade, the South Australian captain struggled in the warm-up match, scoring just one run in his two innings.

But despite falling after making a start in both innings of the Test, Head has demonstrated enough in Birmingham to suggest he can enjoy success in his maiden Ashes campaign.

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval