Usman Khawaja lazy one day, elegant the next as he answers critics with huge Ashes hundred
The 31-year-old plunders 171 as Australia batter England in Sydney, finishing day three 133 runs in front with six wickets in hand
Usman Khawaja answered his critics on Saturday with the best way he knows how: by scoring runs, and lots of them.
Khawaja made 171 on the third day of the fifth Ashes test at the Sydney Cricket Ground for his first century since his 145 against South Africa in Adelaide in November 2016, a span of 15 innings.
It was a timely innings for the 31-year-old as questions around his spot in the team had begun to arise after only scoring two 50s in six innings this Ashes series.
“It’s disappointing to hear, but it’s something I have dealt with throughout my career,” said Khawaja, who has six test centuries at an average of 45.8.
“When I am scoring runs, I’m elegant, and when I’m not scoring runs I’m lazy. Can’t seem to win when things aren’t going well.”
Resuming on 91, the left-hander answered those doubts emphatically as he calmly negotiated his way through the 90s to raise his maiden Ashes century in the eighth over of the day with a cut off Moeen Ali to backward point for two. It came off 222 balls with seven boundaries and a six.
