Sydney: Usman Khawaja is relieved he finally has an Ashes Test century tosavour after a “lot of carry-on” over his debut against England in Sydneyseven years ago.
The elegant Pakistan-born left-hander soaked up the acclaim from his homefans after scoring 171 in the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Groundon Saturday.
Khawaja batted for 515 minutes and faced 381 balls and just missed out onbettering his highest Test score of 174 made against New Zealand inBrisbane in 2015.
It was a special milestone in the career of the 31-year-old, who hasexperienced many ups-and-downs throughout his 29 Tests.
“It’s awesome. The SCG was where I grew up playing cricket for New SouthWales and an Ashes century is something I have wanted for a long time and Ihaven’t been able to achieve, so it was very satisfying,” he told reporters.
Khawaja savoured the moment he reached his sixth Test century, pointing hisbat towards his mother and wife sitting in the stands and getting a longembrace from his batting partner Steve Smith.
“He (Smith) was just telling me to enjoy it. He knows when you get ahundred you’re really excited and you want to do lots of things,” Khawajasaid.
“Your heart’s pumping and everything is going. He was just letting me knowto just calm down and keep my head back down after everything to go on andmake sure I got a big one.”
“(It’s a feeling of) elation,” Khawaja added. “You don’t get to celebrateTest centuries too much unless you’re Steve Smith. You’ve got to enjoy themwhen they come.”
Up until this match, Khawaja’s biggest Ashes moment was his much-hyped Testdebut in 2011 as the first Muslim to play for Australia when he scored 37as a replacement for the injured Ricky Ponting.
“I’ve said a few times, that 37 was a bit embarrassing. There was a lot ofcarry on for a 37,” Khawaja said.
“Playing in the Ashes was a dream. Did that. Winning an Ashes was a dream.We won. Scoring a hundred in the Ashes has always been something I alwayswanted to do. I’ve done that now too.”
Khawaja said he hoped his century would give him more opportunities to keepa regular place in the Australian team after missing out on thesub-continent Tests.
“I love playing for Australia every single Test match, every chance I get,”he said.
“All I can do is try and go out there and score runs for my team and dowell in the top order.”
Of the criticism directed at him from some former players, Khawaja said:“When I am scoring runs, I’m elegant and when I’m not scoring runs I’mlazy. Can’t seem to win, when things aren’t going well.”
“It’s disappointing to hear but it’s something I have dealt with throughoutmy career,” the left-hander added.
“Sometimes the game feels really simple and easy and other times it is abit of a grind. That’s the way it is.” – AFP