Usman Khawaja returned on Thursday to haunt England with a stylish century four years after looting another big Ashes hundred on the same ground as Australia held on tight to the fourth Test in Sydney. Pakistan-born Khawaja, who played his first Test since the 2019 Ashes series in England in place of Covid-isolated Travis Head, was at his best collecting 137 from 260 balls to give Australia the lead after a statement of 416 to eight.
Nathan Lyon smoked Stuart Broad for six over mid-wicket to prompt captain Pat Cummins to end the innings and give the Australian pace seven overs on the tired Englishmen who had toiled 134 overs into the field. Mitchell Starc was 34 not present at the time of the report.
England survived unscathed to the end on 13 with no loss with Haseeb Hameed on two and Zak Crawley not out of two.
– Crawley Procrastination –
Crawley enjoyed a huge reprieve before scoring when he was caught by David Warner on a slip, only to Starc not getting balls for overshooting.
Dropped by Joe Root at 28, Khawaja took full advantage of his recall and was eventually sacked late in the day, giving Broad his fifth wicket.
Khawaja looked to be in it at the end, but an inside edge from Broad fired his punch to end his mighty knock and he left the field for a rousing reception.
His ninth Test century came four years after his 171 against England at the same Sydney Cricket Ground, but it may not be enough to secure his spot for the final Hobart Test later this month, with Brisbane centurion Head expected to be available for selection.
The elegant 35-year-old southpaw looked into the groove, patient with his shot selection to deny the tourists after Broad made a double break after lunch.
Khawaja brought his century into the over for tea when he slammed spinner Jack Leach behind a deep backsquare for three.
Khawaja had a turnoff at 28 for lunch when Root blew a good chance of slipping off Leach and then made the tourists pay dearly.
Khawaja’s patient knock stabilized the Australian first innings after Broad fired Steve Smith and Cameron Green in a double break.
Broad struck twice with the second new ball, clearing the menacing Smith for 67 and the young all-rounder Green for five.
Broad, which followed his 13th Test dismissal of ‘bunny’ David Warner on opening day, got Smith in the Ashes for the ninth time, falling behind on this occasion.
– Provisional Green –
Smith was annoyed with himself as he left the wicket looking good to score a 28th Test century, 12th in the Ashes and fourth in the SCG.
During his knockout, Smith became Australia’s seventh-highest test run scorer, passing current team coach Justin Langer’s 7,696 runs. He has now scored 7,734 runs at 60.89.
Broad followed with the wicket of the cautious Green, who leaped forward and got a big edge on Zak Crawley on the third slip.
Broad then took the wicket of Cummins with a vicious rearing delivery for 24 and Khawaja to finish the day 5-101 from 29 overs.
In another blow to England, star all-rounder Ben Stokes caught his 14th bowling over his left after a short throw to Smith and immediately left the field for treatment.
He later returned to the field but was unable to bowl.
promoted
Root, forced to bowl his off-spin in Stokes’ absence, narrowed Alex Carey’s wicket for 13.
The Ashes are already gone for England after losing an innings and 14 runs in three days in the third Test in Melbourne to give Australia a 3-0 lead with two more Tests to complete.
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