Birmingham: Rory Burns's unbeaten maiden Test century saw him defy Australia for more than six-and-a-half hours as he led a determined England batting effort in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston yesterday.

England were 267-4 at stumps on Day Two of the first Test, just 17 runs behind Australia's first-innings 284. Ashes debutant Burns was 125 not out, with the Surrey left-handed opener, whose innings started on Thursday, receiving a huge ovation from the crowd as he walked off England vice-captain Ben Stokes was 38 not out, having helped Burns add an unbroken 73.