SYDNEY, Australia —
Usman Khawaja joined rarefied
company with back-to-back centuries in the Sydney Test on Saturday, but said he
doesn't expect it will be enough to keep his place in the Australia team for
the final Ashes encounter.
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The stylish 35-year-old left-hander joined Australian
batting greats Doug Walters and
Ricky Ponting as scorers of two centuries in a
Sydney Test with his 137 and unbeaten 101, though conceded it would not be enough
to hold his place for the fifth Test in Hobart.
Pakistan-born Khawaja only came into the side for isolating
Covid victim Travis Head and he made full use of his opportunity with fairytale
twin centuries.
Captain Pat Cummins has already guaranteed Head will regain
his place for Hobart and there have been suggestions it will be at the expense
of Marcus Harris, who again missed an opportunity to cement his berth in the
Sydney Test.
"To be totally honest, I've batted at number five in
this Test match and it was a lot of fun. I got runs but you can't really
compare five to opening," he said.
"It's like apples and oranges. I know because I've done
both of them.
"I came in here for Travis Head, he's had a great
series and I know the selectors have made a lot of tough decisions in this
series and I don't really expect it to be any different because I scored
back-to-back tons.
"It's just the way it is. All I've done is I've had an
opportunity for Australia, scored some runs which I am grateful for.
"The hunger is still there. I've shown that I can still
score runs at this level if an opportunity does present itself in the
future."
Khawaja has delighted cricket watchers with his fluent
strokeplay and has been the major reason why England face an against-the-odds challenge
of chasing down 388 runs in the final innings on Sunday's final day.
Khawaja's unbeaten ton came off just 131 balls with 10 fours
ad two sixes and he reached triple figures with a powerful pull shot through
mid-wicket.
It is his 10th Test century, and third against England --
all of which have come at the SCG.
The only other Australian cricketer with three Ashes
centuries at the SCG is the legendary Victor Trumper.
The languid Khawaja has in one Test scored more runs than
all of England's batsmen apart from captain
Joe Root.
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