CRICKET:

Seven years after Usman Khawaja (left) was pronounced the saviour of Australian cricket when he scored a stylish 37 on his debut, the 31-year-old finally notched up his first Ashes century. In 2011 at the SCG, with the hosts heading for an innings defeat and 3-1 Ashes series loss, his elegant strokes were a light in a very dark sky for Australia. He has not always been able to live up to the high expectations but yesterday he was at the very top of his game as he notched up 171 runs to put Australia on course for a 4-0 series triumph. The fist pump with which he celebrated reaching the milestone was a rare public display of emotion and a clear indication that he had achieved a lifelong ambition.