Usman Khawaja is a Pakistani-born Australian cricketer known for his elegant batting technique and ability to score big runs. The left-hander is equally good in both spin and pace bowling. His international career had both ups and downs. He was left out of the Australian test team for quite some time, however he made a grand comeback in the 2021-22 Ashes and has been an integral part of the team since then. Here, we will look at the top ten knocks by the veteran batsman in the longest format of the game.
1. 140 Vs New Zealand
Usman Khawaja scored his fourth test century against neighbours New Zealand at Wellington in the first test between the two giants in early 2016. In reply to New Zealand’s first innings total of 183, the Aussies lost their opener Burns quite early. Khawaja came out to bat at no. 3 and scored a fine knock of 140 off 216 balls. He hit 25 boundaries in this innings of his. His superb batting display along with Voges’ 239 helped them post a giant total on the board in their first innings and eventually win the match by an innings and 52 runs.
2. 141 Vs Pakistan
In the first test of the series between Pakistan and Australia at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Usman Khawaja scored a scintillating knock of 141 in the second innings when the Aussies came out to chase a huge total of 462. He played 302 balls in his innings before being dismissed by Yasir Shah. His innings comprised 11 boundaries and he had a strike-rate of just above 45. The match ended in a nail-biting draw and Khawaja was adjudged the Man of the Match for his prolific batting display in both the innings.
3. 141 Vs England
The most recent century Khawaja scored was in the first test of the ongoing Ashes series at Birmingham. It also happens to be his first ton on English soil. After the hosts declared on 393/8, Khawaja led the Australian batting with a stunning knock of 141 runs off 321 balls. His innings comprised 14 boundaries and 3 huge sixes. Thanks to his fluent batting in both the innings, the visitors won the first test and he was awarded the Man of the Match award.
4. 144 Vs West Indies
Khawajs’s third test knock came against the West Indies in the second test of the 2015-16 series at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. After the fall of David Warner’s wicket quite early in their first innings, he came out to bat at no. 3 and played an outstanding innings. He scored 144 runs off just 227 balls, which comprised just 6 fours and a single six. Though he did not score too many boundaries in this innings, he was quick on rotating the strike time and again. He was amongst the four centurions in the Australian innings which helped the home side post a mammoth first innings total and ultimately win the match by 177 runs.
5. 145 Vs South Africa
In the third test of South Africa’s tour of Australia in 2016-17 at the Adelaide Oval, Khawaja scored yet another century in his team’s first innings. His 145 runs came off 308 balls which included 12 boundaries, and a strike-rate of just above 45. Though he was dismissed for a duck in the second innings, the Aussies emerged victorious chasing a meager target of 127 runs and Khawaja was awarded the Man of the Match award.
6. 160 Vs Pakistan
After making a solid comeback to the Australian test team in the 2021-22 Ashes, Khawaja had been the most consistent performer in their batting line-up. During this time, he scored yet another century during Australia’s tour of Pakistan in the second test at the National Stadium, Karachi. This was also his first century on Pakistani soil. In the first innings, he achieved this feat in 369 balls, hitting 15 fours and a six as well, before being bowled out by Sajid Khan. The match however ended in a draw.
7. 171 Vs England
Usman Khawaja’s first Ashes century came in the final test of the 2017-18 Ashes series at the famous SCG. In reply to England’s first innings total of 346, Usman Khawaja came out to bat at no. 3 and scored his first century against England. He faced 381 balls and hit 18 boundaries and a huge six to reach this milestone. His outstanding batting display, along with Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Marsh’s centuries propelled the home team to a huge first innings total of 649. Australia eventually won the match and Khawaja was adjudged the Player of the Match.
8. 174 Vs New Zealand
Khawaja’s first-ever test century came in the form of an excellent innings of 174 runs off just 239 balls, when the Aussies played against the Black Caps in the first test of the 2015-16 test series. Coming out to bat at no. 3, he struck 16 boundaries and a couple of sixes to reach this milestone.
9. 180 Vs India
Khawaja scored his 14th test century, his first against India in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the fourth and final test at the largest cricket stadium in the world at Ahmedabad. Coming out to bat first, Usman Khawaja opened the Australian innings and scored this huge total in 422 balls, hitting as many as 21 boundaries in the process. Thanks to his stunning innings, the Aussies posted a huge total of 480 in their first innings. However, a proper fightback from India ensured that the match ended in a draw.
10. 195* Vs South Africa
Khawaja’s best test knock of 195 runs came against the Proteas in a match heavily interrupted by rain. After taking a 2-0 lead in the first two tests, the Aussies were looking to whitewash the Proteas in the third test at Sydney. Khawaja put the hosts in the driving seat as he scored 195 runs off 368 balls in the first innings. His innings comprised 19 fours and a six. However, rain played the spoilsport as captain Pat Cummins was forced to declare their innings with Khawaja remaining unbeaten on 195 runs, just 5 short of his first test double-century. However, he got the Man of the Match award for his stunning knock.
