Ashes 2021-22: Usman Khawaja's SCG century leaves Australia with selection conundrum

Comeback king Usman Khawaja produced a century for the ages at the SCG. So the question is, how does Australia leave him out for next week’s series finale in Hobart? VOTE HERE.

Most of day one was lost to rain at the SCG. Picture: David Gray/AFP

An emotional Usman Khawaja has declared he is “living the Australian dream” after becoming overwhelmed by the hero ovation he was given as the SCG’s comeback King.

The son of Pakistani migrants, Khawaja’s fairytale century on Thursday has booked him a dream ticket back to the country of his birth to represent Australia in March, two and a half years after it seemed he had played his last Test.

Written off by selectors after he was axed during the 2019 Ashes in England, Khawaja (137 off 260 balls) used a marching celebration invented by NBA superstar LeBron James known as ‘The Silencer’ to answer his critics once and for all and provide a lesson in persistence and ‘letting go.’

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Usman Khawaja celebrates his ninth Test century at the SCG.

Khawaja’s first Test in two and a half years only came as a stand-in for Covid-hit Travis Head, but after emphatically stepping up to produce a brilliant ninth career century and only the third hundred by any batsman this Ashes, the question now is, how do Australia leave him out for next week’s series finale in Hobart?

Australia declared at 8-416 before England clambered to 0-13 at stumps, with fortunes flipping for just a moment when Mitchell Starc cost himself the wicket of Zak Crawley with a front foot no ball.

The 24,855 at the SCG’s heartfelt investment in Khawaja was best summed up by them giving Pat Cummins the first booing experience of his career, for daring to rob the boy who grew up a stone’s throw away from the ground of the strike when he was stuck on 99 an over before tea.

“They were booing him, in my head I was booing him, too,” said Khawaja.

“When he took the single, (I said), ‘Patty, what are you doing, you’re killing me.’

“My parents still live in Parramatta … I still have a lot of connections to Sydney in a lot of respects. I’m a Queenslander now … but I don’t forget where I come from. I never have.

“The SCG. Honestly, it was the most touching, humbling, amazing feeling out there today getting that hundred and the roar that went up and chanting ‘Uzzie’ … it’s stuff you dream of. I never expected that to happen.

“To have that it was unbelievable. They talk about the American Dream, I call it the Australian Dream. I joke about it, but I’m quite serious. I’m living the Australian dream.

“My parents came over here from Pakistan to give me and my family a better life. They’ve come all the way out here and I’m representing Australia in the national sport.

“I’ve gone through a lot of hard times, broken down a lot of barriers to get to where I am right now and I think at some level people can relate to that and they can see it, and I love them for it.

“The love I got out here today is something special and something I’ll never forget.”

After his return to the SCG heroics – where he made his Test debut 11 years ago – ‘Homecoming’ will now take on a whole new meaning, with Khawaja’s memorable ton and passing of 3000 Test runs on guaranteeing he will be a crucial part of Australia’s Test tour Pakistan.

Khawaja said he expected to be dropped for the fifth and final Ashes Test in Hobart – a decision said he agreed with, because he believes in the importance of recognising the pecking order of Head coming back in.

But Khawaja was emotional thinking about how it could have all been over for him, and now how the door is open for him to play in his country of birth, aged 35.

“It would be pretty cool, it would be … unbelievable,” he said.

Joe Root drops Usman Khawaja in the first session.

“I’ve put a lot of hard work in. A lot of time behind the scenes that people don’t see. I have a lot of support from my family, my parents and in particular my wife Rachel.

“You never take anything for granted. I was never really sure if I was going to represent Australia again, let alone score a hundred for Australia. So it’s amazing how life can work out. I’m very grateful for another opportunity.”

England have lost almost all the big moments this summer, and it happened again on day two when wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and captain Joe Root at first slip let a Khawaja chance slip through their grasp when the left-hander was on just 28 and Australia still gettable at 3-186.

Jack Leach was visibly disappointed as the edge ricocheted from Buttler’s gloves to Root’s fingers, but not as distraught as Ben Stokes was the next over when he was forced to leave the field with a side strain, not to bowl again.

Given the latest failure for the out of form Cameron Green and Alex Carey’s quick departure, the day could have changed for England if they’d stopped Khawaja and Smith from posting an incredible third century partnership from the three times they’ve batted together in Tests at the SCG.

England quick Stuart Broad took 5-101 to put further egg on the face of coach Chris Silverwood who didn’t pick him in the first Test in Brisbane or the decider on Boxing Day.