Usman Khawaja made a magnificent comeback to Australian cricket team colours as he smashed his ninth century to boost the hosts to over 400 against England in Sydney.
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For two years, Usman Khawaja had not donned the colors of the Australian cricket team. Just before the Ashes, he was pipped to the post by Travis Head. Both Head and Khawaja were in top form in the Sheffield Shield but somehow, Head made it. But, when Head was sidelined due to the coronavirus in Melbourne, Khawaja got a chance to shine in front of his home fans in Sydney. And shine he did.
Khawaja notched up his ninth century and backed by a fifty from Steve Smith, Australia declared on 416/8 against England on day 2 of the Ashes Test in Sydney. This was the second Ashes century for Khawaja and it was his second at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In 2017, he had smashed 171 in an innings win for his side. It was another stop-start day in Sydney with rain initially causing some havoc. But, Khawaja and Steve Smith gave the hosts a solid platform. England’s bowlers, with the exception of Stuart Broad, had to toil for the wickets.
Resuming at 126/3, Smith and Khawaja found the going tough against an England attack that was disciplined. Broad and Anderson bowled in the right channels and not a single boundary was scored in the first hour. A three-minute rain delay saw Steve Smith already reach the dressing room mid-way. But, he made a hasty retreat back to the ground.
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After three further rain delays, Smith and Khawaja opened up with a couple of boundaries off Jack Leach and Anderson. Khawaja got a life on 29 when Joe Root at slip dropped a simple catch off Leach. England was further jolted when Ben Stokes walked off with what was apparently a side strain. With England a man down, Mark Wood, Broad, and Anderson all chipped in.
Smith notched up his 33rd Test fifty and looked good for a big score. After the lunch break, Smith looked to up the ante and he hit a couple of fours off Broad. However, he had some nervous moments. He missed a ball on the pads from Broad and just survived a review. That moment forced Smith to make a mistake. In that same over, Smith nicked a delivery that nipped away outside off to fall for 67.
Khawaja notched up his fifty but Broad got his third wicket when Cameron Green edged to third slip for 5. The left-hander, though, was unflappable. England, though got the news that Stokes would not be able to bowl for the whole game. Khawaja motored to the 80s and Alex Carey was giving him good company. But, Joe Root got the wicket of Carey and it seemed Khawaja would be stranded.
But, he showed his brilliance and raced to 99. Pat Cummins got going with a couple of fours and he had to make Khawaja wait for his ton until the last over before Tea. Khawaja tucked Leach to the backward square leg fence for three runs to notch up a memorable ton. The joy and reception he got from the crowd showed how much it meant for him.
After the tea break, Cummins looked to be aggressive but he fell to Broad for 24. Khawaja and Mitchell Starc then frustrated England with some quick runs. Starc and Khawaja regularly found the fence but Broad struck again. He removed Khawaja for 137 to take his sixth five-wicket haul against Australia. Lyon and Starc then got Australia past 400, giving them five overs of fire against the England openers.
Zak Crawley and Haseeb Hameed just about survived a hostile spell from Cummins and Starc to end on 13/0. Day 3 will be the pivotal moment for England as they look to avoid a 5-0 whitewash.
