Ashes: Usman Khawaja achieves remarkable record on comeback Test

Usman Khawaja
has made a remarkable comeback to the Australian Test team, scoring a hundred
in both innings of the ongoing fourth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Khawaja, who
last played for Australia in August 2019 against England in Leeds, scored an
unbeaten 101 in the second innings on Saturday as Australia set 388 runs target for England
to win the match and extend the series lead to 4-0.

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In the first
innings, Khawaja, coming to bat at No. 5, scored 137 as Australia posted 416
for 8 declared. Now as he slammed back to back hundred in Sydney Test, the
left-handed batter became only the third batter to score a pair of centuries at
the SCG after Doug Walters (vs West Indies in 1968/69) and
Ricky Ponting (vs South Africa in 2005/06). And he has become only the ninth
player to score centuries in both innings of an Ashes Test.

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Khawaja, who was recalled into the squad as Travis Head’s replacement, took 260
deliveries to score 137 in the first innings, and in the second innings he
needed 138 balls to score an unbeaten 101. Khawaja hit two sixes and 10
boundaries during his innings as Australia declared their second innings at 265
for 6.

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Khawaja was in no mood to give England even the slightest of hopes, and along with
Cameron Green proceeded to smash the English bowlers to all parts of the SCG.

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The duo put on
179 runs for the fifth wicket to extinguish any chance of an England revival.
Khawaja went on to reach the 10th Test ton of his career, while Cameron Green
was finally dismissed by Jack Leach for 74.

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Earlier on the
day, England were bowled out for 294 as Australia took a 122-run first-innings
lead. Jonny Bairstow was the top scorer for England, with 113. This was the
first time an English batter scored a hundred in the ongoing Ashes series.

Chasing a
massive target, at day 4 stumps England scored 30 without losing a wicket.