TOP STORIES
“It doesn't come around very much”: Usman Khawaja after his ton against Sri Lanka
Australia finished day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Wednesday in a dominant fashion after experienced batters Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith bludgeoned their centuries. Khawaja’s prestigious knock put an end to his poor run as this massive century from his bat came in almost two years.
Following a disastrous campaign against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, falling for cheaper scores, Khawaja had attracted a lot criticism. However, he fired back at his critics by firing his 16th Test hundred, his first ton since the opening Ashes match against England in 2023.
Calm and composed Khawaja repaid the faith selectors posed in him despite experiencing a lean patch. Khawaja thrived in spin conditions in Sri Lanka, and became the only second Australian batter after Alan Border to score centuries in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“It's a contrast of two halves - my career in the subcontinent. There's pre-Dubai, post-Dubai. There were some low times - my wife Rachel was here with me [in 2016, when he'd been dropped mid-series in Sri Lanka], and we had so many of those tough times. No one ever sees that. Everyone sees the good stuff,” Khawaja said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“But you have to take the good stuff when you get it. It doesn't come around very much. We had one of the greatest players to play the game - Steven Smith - get to, what was that, 35 Test hundreds? As great as he is, he's only done it 35 times. That puts things into perspective,” he added.
Apart from Khawaja, Steve Smith also belted his Test hundred, registering his 35th Test century. The duo thrived on a successful start given by Travis Head, who scored a half-century.
Tags
More News
Asia Cup 2025: Sehwag picks Bumrah, Abhishek and Chakravarthy to be crucial for India
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has picked three Indian players, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah, to be the game-changers for India at the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. India, who are the defending champions, are gearing up to participate in the tournament under the leadership of Suryakumar Y...
UAE T20I tri-series, AFG vs PAK: Asia Cup in focus as Afghanistan meet Pakistan
Ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, Afghanistan and Pakistan are set to ignite their preparations with a massive clash in the opening match of the T20I tri-nation series on Friday at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah. The series, hosted by the UAE, presents a timely platform for the teams to fine-tune their skills and combinati...
Afghanistan lock in squad for UAE T20I tri-series
Afghanistan have finalised their squad for the UAE T20I tri-series, scheduled to begin on August 29 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah. Rashid Khan will lead a full-strength squad boasting the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib.
They have largely named the same squad for both tournaments (Tri...
Sri Lanka name squad for T20I assignment against Zimbabwe; key all-rounder left out
Sri Lanka have left out key all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga from their squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The latest development puts Hasaranga's participation in the upcoming Asia Cup in jeopardy. Hasaranga has been battling an injury which he picked up during the T20I series against Bangladesh in J...
England quick Mark Wood lauds Rohit Sharma
England's terrific pacer Mark Wood has singled out India's explosive batter Rohit Sharma as one of the toughest Indian batters he has come across in international cricket, praising hitman's ability to counter short-pitched deliveries. Wood, who has been out of action since August last year following a knee injury, is aiming to make his comeback with Durham in t...
Android App
iOS App
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram