The Ashes 2023 opener between England and Australia at Edgbaston hangs in balance heading into the final day, with the hosts needing seven wickets and the tourists requiring 174 more runs to win the Test match.  

Chasing 281 to win, Australia reached 107/3 at the close of play on Day 4 with Usman Khawaja (34*) and Scott Boland (13*) unbeaten in the middle.

For England, Stuart Broad starred with the ball as he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Steve Smith (6) cheaply to bring his team back into the contest.

Speaking after the fourth day’s play, Broad said the current England team wants to be part of an Ashes win that is on similar lines to the famous 2005 triumph but the veteran pacer hopes the ongoing Edgbaston Test doesn’t end the same way it did at the venue 18 years ago.

During the 2005 Ashes, England registered a thrilling two-run victory over Australia in Birmingham en route to a 2-1 series triumph.

“You can tell this group is massively inspired and motivated by that series,” Broad said.

“It’s great the series are being related because 2005 inspired our group to want to play and win Ashes series…

“If the series can be half as good as that one I think we’ll be inspiring the nation.

“But I’m not sure we want (this Test) going to two runs (on Tuesday). Hopefully, it doesn’t get as close as that and we get a few wickets early because that won’t do much for the heart, will it?”

In the fourth innings, Usman Khawaja and David Warner got Australia off to a solid start, adding 61 runs for the opening wicket. Ollie Robinson drew the first blood by dismissing Warner for 36.

Subsequently, Broad took the outside edges of Labuschagne and Smith to reignite England’s victory bid.

“It’s all set up to be a fantastic day,” Broad said. “We’re obviously delighted to have Warner, Marnus and Smith back in the pavilion because they’re world-class players.

“But we know the Aussies have got a lot of danger to come so we’ve got to be right on the money.”

(With AFP inputs)