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‘My goodness’: Usman Khawaja falls agonisingly short of Test century in Lahore

Usman Khawaja has fallen victim to a superb piece of fielding, with the Aussie star dismissed agonisingly short of a Test century.

Nic SavageNic Savage
@nic_savage1
7 min read
March 22, 2022 - 6:32AM
Wicket: Australia, Usman Khawaja - 21 Mar 22

Usman Khawaja has once again fallen short of a Test century in Pakistan, with the Australian opener dismissed nine runs short of the milestone in Lahore on Monday.

The left-hander has been in scintillating form since returning to the national set-up in January, averaging 107.83 with the bat in Test cricket this calendar year.

But for a second time in this historic Test series against Pakistan, Khawaja has been removed in the nervous nineties by a spin bowler.

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The Queenslander tried to flick Pakistan tweaker Sajid Khan through mid-wicket in the 75th over of Australia’s first innings, with a thick outside edge flying low to Babar Azam’s right at first slip. The Pakistan skipper somehow held onto an “absolute blinder” to send Khawaja back to the sheds for 91.

Eight Australians have fallen within 10 runs of a Test century since the start of the Ashes series, a worrying trend for the No. 1 ranked Test side.

Earlier, Khawaja and Australian vice-captain Steve Smith combined for a crucial 138-run partnership before the latter was dismissed by Pakistan quick Naseem Shah for 59.

Australia is 5/232 at stumps on day one, with young all-rounder Cameron Green unbeaten on 10 and wicketkeeper Alex Carey on 9 at the other end. The third Test will resume on Tuesday afternoon AEDT at 4pm.

Australia's Usman Khawaja walks back to the pavilion. Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP
Australia's Usman Khawaja walks back to the pavilion. Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP

Head departs for 26

The Aussies are suddenly in a spot of bother in Lahore.

The old ball has done the trick for Pakistan, with young seamer Naseem Shah finding the outside edge of Travis Head’s bat with a delivery that kept low and nipped away from the left-hander.

Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey, the last recognised batter in the starting XI, joins young gun Cameron Green in the middle.

Khawaja falls short of century

Oh deary me.

Usman Khawaja has fallen victim to a superb piece of fielding by Pakistan captain Babar Azam, with the Australian opener dismissed for 91 in Lahore.

The left-hander tried to flick Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan through mid-wicket, with a thick outside edge flying low to Azam’s right. He somehow held onto the chance.

“That is a blinder, an absolute blinder,” commentator Mike Haysman said.

It’s the second time Khawaja has been dismissed in the nervous nineties this series — eight Australians have fallen within 10 runs of a Test century since the start of the Ashes.

However, Khawaja still averages 107.83 in Test cricket since his return to the national set-up.

Young all-rounder Cameron Green is the new man in the middle, joining Travis Head.

Australian Test batters dismissed in the nineties since December

94 — David Warner vs ENG, Brisbane

95 — David Warner vs ENG, Adelaide

93 — Steve Smith vs ENG, Adelaide

93 — Meg Lanning vs ENG, Canberra

97 — Usman Khawaja vs PAK, Rawalpindi

90 — Marnus Labuschagne vs PAK, Rawalpindi

93 — Alex Carey vs PAK, Karachi

91 — Usman Khawaja vs PAK, Lahore

Smith departs after tea break

Steve Smith has once again fallen short of a Test century, with young seamer Naseem Shah removing the Australian vice-captain for 59.

Shah got the Kookaburra to keep low and reverse swing back into the right-hander, who was struck adjacent to the stumps. Smith did not bother calling for the review.

The 32-year-old also fell agonisingly short of passing 8000 Test runs.

Smith, who boasts a Test batting average above 60, has not scored a century in any format of international cricket since January 2021. He has reached fifty on six occasions since his most recent triple-figure score at Test level.

Smith and Usman Khawaja combined for a 138-run partnership in Lahore to frustrate the Pakistanis. Travis Head is the new man in the middle.

Steve Smith Test innings since last century

81, 36, 55, 12, 93, 6, 16, 67, 23, 0, 27, 78, 72, 59

“Of course, the first two innings getting 70. That’s a number I haven’t got out on too many times in my career,” Smith said before the Lahore Test.

“I’ve usually gone on to get a bigger score, particularly on these wickets.

“I’ve been pretty disappointed to get out, especially after working hard to get there and playing well to that point.

“Hopefully I can get into a similar position this Test and go on.”

Soon after, another Australian batter was gifted an extra life at the crease, with Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan dropping a caught-and-bowled chance against Head, who was on 7 at the time.

Fifty for Smith

Australian vice-captain Steve Smith has brought up his third fifty of the series and the 36th of his Test career.

He needed 154 deliveries to reach the milestone.

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin told Fox Cricket it was the “best he’s looked” this series.

“He’s changed his mindset to be more aggressive,” he said.

“To me, he’s looked to score and not just survive and that’s where he’s batting his best.”

Khawaja is officially better than Bradman

The second coming of Usman Khawaja has been a spectacle, with three centuries and a classy 97 since his long-awaited return to the Australian Test side.

As the left-hander approaches yet another half-century in Lahore, Khawaja’s Test average in the calendar year has crept into triple figures.

In fact, Khawaja currently boasts the highest Test batting average for cricketers after their 35th birthday, narrowly trumping the legendary Sir Donald Bradman.

Soon after the lunch break, Khawaja brought up the 16th fifty of his Test career, reaching the minor milestone in 105 deliveries.

Largest Test batting average after 35th birthday

118.20 — Usman Khawaja (AUS)

105.72 — Sir Donald Bradman (AUS)

75.91 — Charles Macartney (AUS)

72.80 — Greg Chappell (AUS)

69.38 — Eddie Paynter (ENG)

* Minimum five Test matches

Australia's Usman Khawaja. Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP
Australia's Usman Khawaja. Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP

Fifty partnership for Aussie duo

Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith have set about resurrecting the Australian innings, bringing up their 50-run partnership in Lahore.

It’s the duo’s 15th Test partnership worth more than 50 runs, comfortably the most for an Australian pair since 2015.

The Pakistanis put down a couple of tough chances off Nauman Ali’s first over, gifting each of the Aussies an extra life at the crease.

Warner, Labuschagne depart early

Disaster for Australia, with opener David Warner and No. 3 batter Marnus Labuschagne removed cheaply in Lahore.

Pakistan paceman Shaheen Afridi got the Kookaburra to nip past Warner’s inside edge in the third over, trapping the left-hander on the pad for 7.

Warner didn’t bother calling for the review, making his way back to the pavilion for 7 — that was plumb.

That’s now 39 consecutive innings for Warner in international cricket without a century.

Labuschagne, the world’s No. 1 Test batter, joined Usman Khawaja in the middle earlier than he would have hoped, and returned to the sheds not long after.

Facing his second delivery, Labuschagne lazily pushed at a wide delivery from Afridi, with the outside edge carrying to Pakistan gloveman Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps.

It was a terrible shot from the Queenslander, who falls for his second duck of the series — he becomes the third Australian to suffer at least three Test ducks against Pakistan.

Suddenly the Aussies are 2/8 in Lahore, with Steve Smith the new man in the middle.

Aussies win crucial toss

Australia captain Pat Cummins has won the toss and elected to bat first in Lahore.

Considering how the first two Tests transpired, this is a massive win for the visitors — Australia’s bowlers will (hopefully) get another day to recover after last week’s gruelling 172-over marathon in Karachi.

The first ball is scheduled for 4pm AEDT.

Pakistan XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sajid Khan, Naseem Shah

Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson

Cricket becoming its own worst enemy

Cricket’s return to Lahore may make more history in an already historic series, but don’t expect the on-field exploits to reach any lofty levels.

While Pakistan admitted to doctoring the first Test pitch in order to play to Pakistan’s strengths in a match which saw just 14 wickets fall, the batter-friendly conditions continued in Karachi as Australia declared both innings, while Pakistan nearly chased down 506 on the fifth day of the Test.

The second Test had its moments, but it was once again a batters paradise.

More of the same is expected in Lahore, which points to yet another draw. Historically, that’s a safe bet.

Babar Azam’s double century in Karachi always won the game. Photo by Arif ALI / AFP
Babar Azam’s double century in Karachi always won the game. Photo by Arif ALI / AFP

Geo News Urdu’s Arfa Feroz Zake tweeted: “Gaddafi Stadium Lahore is famous for being a paradise for batters in domestic cricket. GSL is an ideal venue for T20 cricket due to it’s flatness and good bounce. GSL is less friendlier towards bowlers. Hence there are possibilities for Lahore Test to end up as draw too.”

Cricket statistician Mazher Arshad also wrote: “Hoping for an exciting pitch this time in Lahore. It used to be a very challenging venue for bowlers in 2000s. Apart from one game vs India in 2004, can’t think of any surface that had life for bowlers. Pakistan won a few Tests due to freakish fast bowling of Shoaib Akhtar.

“Tbh, Lahore was the most boring venue for Tests when cricket was regular in Pakistan. Apart from one pitch vs India in 2004, can’t think of a wicket that was lively for bowlers in late 90s and 2000s. Pakistan won couple of Tests due to mad speed of Shoaib Akhtar.”

Former Pakistan opener Yasir Hameed called for Pakistan to “go for kill make seaming track” in Lahore, but Australia has stuck with the same side as the second Test team, leaving Josh Hazlewood in the sheds.

It’s sparked the debate over whether five day draws where there is no hope of a result is good for the sport.

How will the pitch play? Australia want to know. Photo by Arif ALI / AFP
How will the pitch play? Australia want to know. Photo by Arif ALI / AFP

Comedian and cricket statistician Andy Zaltzman tweeted that there have been six draws in four Tests this month, three featuring more than 400 overs of cricket, adding: “There had only been three draws with over 400 overs played in the previous 130 Tests worldwide, since Oct 2018 …”

“Batters who have faced 560+ balls in a Test in the last 8 years: Imam-ul-Haq, P v A, earlier this month, Kraigg Brathwaite, WI v E, this week.

“It’s been a good March for fans of pointlessly tedious Test pitches.”

Zake added that he hopes the final match of the series has a result or there’ll be plenty of questions raised.

“The historic Australia tour to Pakistan does not deserve to end up as draw,” he wrote. “The pitch for Lahore Test has to behave differently in comparison to Karachi/Rawalpindi. A three match test series ending up as 0-0 draw will create a lot of questions on policy of PCB for pitches.”

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-in-pakistan-third-test-day-one/news-story/cf58cf0846a6f03df4e2c856134377bb