Rory Burns celebrates after scoring his maiden Test century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

England opener Rory Burns scored an unbeaten 125 to give his side the upper hand over Australia on the second day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

Starting off the day on 10/0, England only added 12 runs to their overnight score before opening batsman Jason Roy was caught by Steve Smith at second slip off the bowling of James Pattinson for 10 runs.

Burns and England captain Joe Root made up for the loss of Roy with a 132-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-centuries.

Root went on to make 57, which came off 119 balls and included six boundaries, before he was caught and bowled by Peter Siddle.

Joe Denly only scored 18 runs before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Pattinson, while Jos Buttler made five runs before being caught by Cameron Bancroft at third slip off the bowling of Pat Cummins.

Burns and Ben Stokes stabilised the innings and ensured England ended the day on a high as they forged an unbeaten 73-run partnership, during which Burns brought up his hundred, before stumps was called.

Burns finished on 125, which came off 282 balls and included 16 boundaries, while Stokes remained undefeated on 38, which came off 71 deliveries and included six boundaries.

Pattinson was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Siddle and Cummins claimed one wicket each.

England ended day two on 267/4, which leaves them trailing Australia’s first innings score by 17 runs, and will continue batting on Saturday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.