A century to Usman Khawaja on Day 2 at the SCG has capped off a great come back story for the 35-year-old.
Khawaja, on the ground he debuted back on in 2011, reached 100 in the over before Tea in his first Test back since being dropped during the 2019 Ashes series.
🗣️ "YES, YES, YES!"
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 6, 2022
In his first Test innings for nearly two and a half years...
Usman Khawaja brings up his century at the SCG! 💯🙌#Ashes pic.twitter.com/JkZgezPuMH
Having started the day on 3*, the Queensland captain would go on to add another 134 runs before being dismissed by Stuart Broad, bowled through the gate.
He ensured that the day once again belonged to the Australians, who reached 416 on a difficult surface to well and truly put England under the pump.
Sent out with just 25 minutes to survive, the English openers achieved a rare feat on this tour, surviving a tricky period to both be there at Stumps.
However, it wasn't without Zak Crawley getting lucky, edging Mitchell Starc to first slip on a no-ball.
Haseeb Hameed and Crawley are both on 2*.
Declared a no-ball, England catch a break!
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 6, 2022
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Earlier, things looked ominous for England as Steve Smith and Khawaja built a 115-run partnership, but Smith’s dismissal to Broad for 67 and the departures of Cam Green and Alex Carey cheaply gave hope to the tourists they could dismiss the Aussies for little more than 300.
However, as it so often has this series, the tail wagged for Australia to push the total into the 400s.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc put on 46 and 67-run partnerships with Usman Khawaja for the seventh and eighth wickets as Australia moved to drain England’s prospects of a win early in the Test match.
Australia declared at 8-416, Broad taking five wickets in a performance that will no doubt leave England supporters scratching their heads over why he has missed two out of the four Tests.
Usman Khawaja is finally dismissed, and with it, Stuart Broad grabs another 5-fa.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/0XNU2Xt9xb
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 6, 2022
While there is more rain forecast for the coming days, Australia will hold out hope for a win due to the apparent deterioration in the pitch after just 139 overs.