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SCG Test, day two: Usman Khawaja’s redemption complete with classy Ashes century

Australia’s day was going perfectly, until speedster Mitchell Starc gifted an England batter an extra life in the penultimate over.

Nic Savage and Andrew McMurtry
9 min read
January 6, 2022 - 7:34PM
Day one was the best half day England have had this Ashes. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
Day one was the best half day England have had this Ashes. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Australia has dominated day two of the New Year’s Test, with Thursday’s action at the SCG highlighted by a classy century from Usman Khawaja.

England finished a rain-shortened day one with its brightest start to a match of this Ashes series, with their quicks taking a wicket each on Wednesday.

Only 46.5 overs were possible as the nagging rain hung over the ground, cutting the play short and finishing the day at an intriguing 3/126 to kick off day two.

Steve Smith and Khawaja, who both boast an impressive record at the SCG, survived the entire morning session and were unbeaten at lunch on day two.

Seamer Stuart Broad struck twice early in the afternoon session to keep England in the contest, but Khawaja continued his resistance at the other end.

The Queensland captain brought up his ninth Test century just before the tea interval, completing his redemption story.

Khawaja’s masterclass ended on 137, with Broad claiming a well-deserved five-wicket haul – his second on Australian soil. Skipper Pat Cummins declared the Australian innings to a close on 8/416.

Australian quick Mitchell Starc believes he had unearthed a breakthrough in the penultimate over of the day, but replays showed he had overstepped, gifting England opener Zak Crawley an extra life on 0.

England will resume at 0/13 on day three, still trailing Australia by 403 runs.

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Starc’s late blunder

Australia’s day came to a disappointing end, with Mitchell Starc taking a wicket on a no-ball in the penultimate over of day two in Sydney.

Starc found the outside edge of England opener Zak Crawley, with David Warner taking the catch at first slip.

But as the Aussies celebrated the breakthrough, replays showed that Starc had overstepped the popping crease.

“Finally the Aussies make a mistake,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.

Crawley was gifted an extra life on 0, and England’s opener survived to stumps without losing a wicket.

Aussies declare

Australian captain Pat Cummins has declared the innings closed at 8/416.

Mitchell Starc was unbeaten on 34 with Nathan Lyon not out at the other end on 16.

England’s openers will have 20 minutes to survive before stumps.

Broad snares five-fa

Usman Khawaja’s SCG masterclass has drawn to a close.

England seamer Stuart Broad has secured a five-wicket haul at the SCG, removing the Australian centurion for 137 on the evening session of day two.

Broad found the inside edge os Khawaja’s bat, with the Kookaburra ricocheting into the stumps.

Nathan Lyon joins teammate Mitchell Starc in the middle.

Aussie skipper departs after review

England seamer Stuart Broad has claimed his fourth wicket of the innings, removing Aussie skipper Pat Cummins with a bouncer that brushed the glove on the way through to the wicketkeeper.

The on-field umpire initially gave it not out, but the decision was overturned after England captain Joe Root called for the review.

Mitchell Starc is the new batter in the middle, joining centurion Usman Khawaja.

Forgotten Aussie star’s Ashes redemption

Usman Khawaja has brought up his first Test century in nearly three years.

The Queensland captain was dropped from the Australian Test side during the 2019 Ashes, with many believing his international career was over.

After a superb start to his Sheffield Shield campaign this summer, Khawaja was recalled to the Test squad for this Ashes series – but national selectors opted instead for Travis Head for the No. 5 spot.

But after Head tested positive to Covid-19 last week, Khawaja was given another opportunity at Test level and he hasn’t missed out.

The Sydney crowd roared with delight when the 35-year-old reached triple figures with a clip through square leg. Khawaja celebrated the feat with his own rendition of LeBron James’ famous “Silencer” move.

It was Khawaja’s ninth Test century and second against England.

“It brings a tear to the eye, doesn‘t it,” former Australian paceman Trent Copeland said on Channel 7.

“A return to the team. He said himself before this match he had almost clocked off for the summer thinking he was not going to get a game given how well Travis Head had performed. But what a moment for Usman Khawaja and his family, Rach and Aisha.”

Usman Khawaja of Australia celebrates his century. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Usman Khawaja of Australia celebrates his century. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Carey departs

Australia has lost its sixth wicket, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey has fallen to opposition captain Joe Root for 13.

Carey looked to attack a full delivery from Root, but the top edge was caught by Jonny Bairstow at mid-on.

Australian captain Pat Cummins joins Usman Khawaja in the middle.

Green falls cheaply

Cameron Green’s woes with the bat continue.

The Australian all-rounder has been dismissed by England seamer Stuart Broad for 5 after edging a full delivery to Zak Crawley at third slip.

Green currently averages 14.25 with the bat in this Ashes series, while Broad has his third scalp of the innings.

Fifty for Khawaja

Playing his first Test match since August 2019, Usman Khawaja has returned to the Australian outfit with a classy half-century.

The Queensland captain needed 134 deliveries to reach the minor milestone. It’s the 35-year-old’s 15th half-century at Test level.

Cricket reporter Melinda Farrell tweeted: “It‘s the least surprising thing that Khawaja looks right at home back at Test level.”

ESPNcricinfo’s Andrew McGlashan posted: “Biggest roar of the Test as Usman Khawaja brings up a comeback fifty … imagine if he doubles it.”

Broad strikes

Australia’s fourth wicket has finally fallen, with vice-captain Steve Smith dismissed by England’s Stuart Broad for 67 moments after surviving an LBW shout.

Broad got a delivery to deck away from the right-hander, and a thin edge was taken by gloveman Jos Buttler behind the stumps.

“There’s just enough there with the new ball, and they had to strike England and they have,” former Australian batter Greg Blewett said on Triple M. “They’ve got the dangerous Steven Smith who looked like he’d camp there for a day and a half.”

Smith’s resistance comes to an end, and young all-rounder Cameron Green joins Usman Khawaja in the middle.

Century stand for Aussie duo

Australian vice-captain Steve Smith and returning batter Usman Khawaja have combined for a century partnership at the SCG.

Khawaja is approaching his first Test half-century in nearly three years.

England skipper drops a sitter

Oh dear, England’s put down another chance in the field.

Dropped catches have plagued the tourists throughout this Ashes series, and now skipper Joe Root has added to their woes in the field.

Spinner Jack Leach caught the outside edge of Usman Khawaja’s bat, with the ball ricocheting off Jos Buttler’s thigh towards Root at first slip.

But Root wasn’t able to hold onto the chance, gifting Khawaja an extra life on 28.

“That is a big chance,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.

Former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe added: “It should have been taken. Unlucky for Leach.”

Soon after, England all-rounder Ben Stokes left the field partway through an over with a suspected side strain.

The England camp later confirmed that Stokes was being treated for left side tightness, and will be assessed over the coming 60 minutes.

“It goes from bad to worse for Joe Root and the England team,” Gilchrist said.

Smith brought up his half-century just before the lunch interval, reaching the minor milestone in 116 deliveries.

It was his tenth 50+ score in 13 Test knocks at the NSW capital, breaking the record for fewest innings required to achieve the feat at a venue.

And they’re off again

This must be so frustrating for fans at the SCG. By my count, this is the seventh rain delay in less than four sessions of play.

It feels as though the spectators have spent more time looking at the ground staff fiddle around with the covers than watching the actual cricket.

After returning to the field, the players and umpires had to patiently wait as a tractor holding the covers reversed into its parking spot near the boundary rope.

Cricket reporter Will Macpherson tweeted: “This is genuinely pathetic.”

There were three rain delays in the morning session.
There were three rain delays in the morning session.

Steve Smith has looked particularly keen to get off the field whenever the rain stars falling, presumably to protect his bat from the rain.

When the rain became a bit heavier in Sydney, the Australian vice-captain started waltzing towards the changerooms before the umpires had even made a decision.

At one stage, Smith had to sheepishly walk back to his mark when the officials decided to play on. The 32-year-old was seen awkwardly protecting his bat from the rain by placing it between his legs.

Some pundits accused Smith of attempting to pressure the umpires into calling play to a halt. Cricket reporter Chris Stocks posted: “Is Steve Smith allergic to rain water?”

England great Michael Atherton told SEN: “I’ve not been that impressed with Steve Smith’s attempts to run the game.

“To dictate to the umpires when they’ll stay on or go off.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket: “I don’t think that’s right that a player should be walking off until the umpires say.

“If it’s looking really gloomy over the back, of course you go off. But when it’s like this and you know it’s going to be a couple of minutes and now the players go into the dressing room, the umpires will have to go back out to check and then they’ll have to go into the dressing room to tell the captains, it’s just time taken out of the game that doesn’t need to happen.

“Test cricket must learn that there’s people spending a lot of money to come and watch and I just don’t think they’re getting value for money for what they pay.”

Steve Smith up to his usual antics

Less than half an hour into day two of the New Year’s Test, we’ve already witnessed some vintage Steve Smith leaves at the SCG.

In the 53rd over of Australia’s innings, England seamer Stuart Broad bowled a loose delivery down the leg side.

But instead of attempting a leg glance, Smith bent down on one leg and threw his arms in the air, exaggerating a leave through to the keeper.

Broad was amused by the Australian vice-captain’s antics, giggling all the way back to the top of his mark.

Soon after, the rain returned to halt play at the SCG as covers were rushed onto the ground.

But a 15-minute delay didn’t bother Smith, who smacked the first delivery after the break past the bowler for a boundary.

Damning Sydney Test stats just get worse

Isa Guha said on Fox Cricket’s Ashes Daily that it was looking a lot brighter and less cloudy to start day two but the Barmy Army pointed out that the weather gods may not be on the side of the cricket fans at the SCG.

The Bureau of Meteorology said there is a strong chance of rain coming back into play on day two and across the remaining days of the Test.

The forecast for the rest of Thursday at 9am was: “Cloudy. High (80%) chance of showers, becoming less likely late this afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds north-easterly 25 to 40 km/h.”

It didn’t escape the Barmy Army.

At lunch on day one, Fox Cricket commentator Mark Howard revealed how wet it traditionally is in Sydney.

“Since 2014-15, this is the number of sessions lost due to weather in Australia. The Gabba, 3.5 sessions. Adelaide Oval, 4.5 sessions. The MCG, 6.5 sessions. The SCG … 16.5 sessions. 10 sessions more than anyone else in the country.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said: “You may as well play this Test match in Derby.”

But Howard added that the SCG had lost more in the last eight years than Manchester has.

Cricket statistician Ric Finlay also revealed Sydney had a complete day washed out every 4.36 Tests.

Shane Warne also called for a less wet location to get the New Year's Test.

“Imagine England arriving in Australia, beautiful Sydney coming here, have the 10 days lead up and make Sydney the first Test,” Warne said.

“It’s better weather then than it is in the first week of January. It just seems to always rain in the Test match. It’s such a beautiful venue, such a beautiful city that imagine if the tourists, and any opposition team, came here to Sydney and had 10 days on the harbour and loosening up, getting ready and then play the first Test in Sydney rather than the fourth Test always in the New Year, maybe it’s time for a change.”

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