Ashes T5 Day 1 Stumps: Australia Struggle on Rain Affected Day; Khwaja Holds His Own

The most significant thing at stumps on the first day of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground was not the fact that Australia have their first Muslim cricketer the Test cap but that he had almost withstood his first day of Test cricket enough to give Australia something to hold on.

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Few would have guessed that Usman Khwaja was making his debut. He was standing tall amidst the rubble that has been Australian cricket and although he is only thirty-seven Test runs old, Khwaja has the makings of a Test cricketer who could do Australia proud in the future.

michael clarke throws back his head

Australia's run on the first day was nothing out of the ordinary. On the contrary, England must pat themselves on yet another day's job done well, particularly with the rain interruptions that could have easily had England take their foot off the pedal considering the fact that they have already retained the Ashes urn by winning the Melbourne Test.

Australia would have thought they had battled the conditions well through the grit of their openers before the struggling Phil Hughes fell before lunch to Chris Tremlett for thirty-one. At that stage, the Australian scorecard read fifty-five runs on board but Australian captain for the Test, Michael Clarke, would be a pensive man at stumps with Australia four down for 134 with he himself unable to make any impact at all with the bat, dismissed by Tim Bresnan for four.

Shane Watson was his usual self, playing the role of saving grace once more, but Australia would clearly need more than grit and forty-five runs to show some semblance of stopping England from running away with the Ashes 2010 altogether. The injured Ricky Ponting gave way to the uncapped Usman Khwaja and once the young man got over the nerves, the nerves of steel came through in some measure for Australia's good.

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Khwaja's runs were probably the highlight for Australia under bleak prospects and had he remained unbeaten at stumps, people would have had a story to tell. As it turns out, Graeme Swann spoilt the party, rather Khwaja's choice of shot brought about his downfall. He will have time over his career to correct it. But have Australia run out of time to save some face and pride in the Ashes?