Khawaja: Scoring an Ashes century was a dream
Usman Khawaja is utterly pleased with himself. He is relieved, and he is happy. On Saturday (January 6) at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he scored his maiden Ashes century, seven years after making his debut in the series. It came at a time when there were questions of his long-term future in the Australian batting line-up – it’s been 13 months since he last scored a century in Tests – but he was at his elegant best during his knock 171, aggregated during a 515-minute vigil after facing 318 balls.
He only just missed out on bettering his highest Test score of 174 made, against New Zealand in Brisbane in 2015. Khawaja hasn’t had a straightforward career so far – there have been a few ups, but plenty of downs as well. This ranks right up there. Khawaja savoured the moment he reached his sixth Test century, warmly embracing Steven Smith, his captain, pointing his bat towards his family in the stands.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “The SCG was where I grew up playing cricket for New South Wales and an Ashes century is something I have wanted for a long time and I haven’t been able to achieve, so it was very satisfying. “(It’s a feeling of) elation. You don’t get to celebrate Test centuries too much unless you’re Steve Smith. You’ve got to enjoy them when they come.”
“[Smith] was just telling me to enjoy it. He knows when you get a hundred you’re really excited and you want to do lots of things. Your heart’s pumping and everything is going. He was just letting me know to just calm down and keep my head back down after everything to go on and make sure I got a big one.”
Khawaja’s knock was timely too. Australia are set to tour South Africa in March-April for a four-Test series, and the left-hand batsman ensured his chances of retaining his place in the side shot up. “Playing in the Ashes was a dream. Did that,” he said. “Winning an Ashes was a dream. We won. Scoring a hundred in the Ashes has always been something I always wanted to do. I’ve done that now too.
“I love playing for Australia every single Test match, every chance I get. All I can do is try and go out there and score runs for my team and do well in the top order.”
Khawaja could also now react to some of the criticism that has come his way, including from former players. He said it was disappointing, but didn’t let it bog him down. “When I am scoring runs, I’m elegant and when I’m not scoring runs I’m lazy. Can’t seem to win, when things aren’t going well,” he said. “It’s disappointing to hear but it’s something I have dealt with throughout my career … Sometimes the game feels really simple and easy and other times it is a bit of a grind. That’s the way it is.”
