Khawaja hits back at critics with ton
SYDNEY: Usman Khawaja hit back at his critics after scoring a first Ashes century on another dominant day for Australia at the SCG on Saturday. Khawaja was recalled for the series against England after being dropped during the tour of Bangladesh.
The left-hander made half-centuries at Adelaide Oval and the WACA, but his place has been called into question as Steve Smith’s men regained the urn. Khawaja silenced the doubters in Sydney, making 171 on a third day which ended with Australia on course for a 4-0 series win at 479-4 - leading by 133 runs - and the 31-year-old spoke of his frustration at being in the firing line.
“It’s disappointing,” Khawaja said when asked about the criticism. “When I am scoring runs, I‘m elegant and when I‘m not scoring runs I‘m lazy. I can’t seem to win when things aren’t going well.
“It’s disappointing to hear but it’s something I have dealt with throughout my career. When I play nothing really changes for me. I go out there and try and score runs every single time.
“Sometimes the game feels really simple and easy and other times it is a bit of a grind. That’s the way it is.”
Khawaja spoke of his relief after reaching three figures for the first time against England. “Playing in the Ashes was a dream. Did that. Winning an Ashes was a dream. We won,” he added. “It’s awesome. 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,” he told reporters.
Khawaja savoured the moment he reached his sixth Test century, pointing his bat towards his mother and wife sitting in the stands and getting a long embrace from his batting partner Steve Smith.
“He (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,” Khawaja said.
“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.”
Brief scores: England 1st inngs 346 vs Australia 1st inngs 479/4 (overnight 193-2) (U Khawaja 171, S Smith 83, S Marsh 98 batting, M Marsh 63 batting, J Anderson 1-52, S Broad 1-70)