As Usman Khawaja assessed the prospect of a lead role in his seventh Ashes series, the veteran joked that not too long ago he would have laughed at the prospect. It had proven to be his greatest challenge until a stunning response on Wednesday.
The left-hander, whose tenure in the Australian side is characterised by flukes of fortune, added another flourish to a most-unusual career arc when scoring 82 after being called on to replace an ill Steve Smith at Adelaide Oval.
His 27th half-century came just a day after his international career seemed over when he was left out of the Australian team, although captain Pat Cummins had left the door slightly ajar, perhaps mindful of Smith’s struggles.
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“If you’d told me four years ago I’d be playing cricket for Australia at the age of 38, and potentially 39 this summer, I would have laughed at you,” he said.
Striding to the crease with Australia under pressure at 2-33, Khawaja’s moment in the sun was almost over before it began, but Harry Brook was unable to grasp a catch that flew to his left when the makeshift Aussie No.4 was on five.
Making the most of a chance in his inning following a reprieve in his career, the veteran set about adding another incredible punchline to a career arc he conceded was most improbable at the start of the summer.
He fell shortly before tea when caught sweeping Will Jacks in the outfield by Joe Tongue, with his 82 the third highest score for the series following the centuries by Travis Head and Joe Root in the opening two Tests of the Ashes.
Khawaja acknowledged leading into the summer that he was treating every opportunity to bat for Australia as a blessing. The turmoil experienced in Perth with his back, which forced him out of the Australian side, only sweetened his appetite.
A last minute reprieve is far from a new situation for Khawaja, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Thursday and is the oldest Australian Test batter since Bob Simpson came out of retirement in 1977.
It was an illness to Travis Head, who replaced him at the top of the order in the second innings in Perth last month, in Sydney almost four years ago that enabled Khawaja another chance at a time when most cricketers have retired.
Khawaja was banished from the Aussie squad in 2013 over homework gate, only to receive a reprieve for that year’s Ashes, where he was again dumped after failing in Durham.
Having worked back into the team following a switch from New South Wales to Queensland, Khawaja believed his Test career was over when he was dropped during the 2019 Ashes.
But his appetite for runs and his desire to represent Australia never diminished, with Khawaja piling on the runs in domestic cricket as his mental strength and resilience grew.
Had the chance not arisen for the New Year’s Test at the SCG in 2022, the Aussie stalwart said he would have been content knowing he had given himself every opportunity to succeed.
But the opportunity did arise and Khawaja conjured hundreds in both innings in a dead rubber against England when batting at No.5 to revive a career so often written off.
What has followed has been remarkable. Khawaja has scored more Test runs than any other batter aged 35 or older, with his deeds through 2022 and 2023 in particular spectacular.
So rich was the vein of form he found in his fifth, sixth or seventh coming, depending on who is counting, that he was named the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2023.
“The SCG (in 2022) was special. It was unexpected. My career was over in my head. I’ve said it a million times, but it was,” he said.
“(It is) hard to beat that from an individual point of view, but from a team point of view, and wins, this was by far my favourite match ever in my life.”
When Khawaja trudged from the slips cordon at Perth Stadium last month, looking twice his 38 years of age, it seemed possible it would be the last time he was seen in Australian colours. But as Alyssa Healy said, he is a tough cricketer.
Another chapter has opened with the chance to replace Smith. With his career clearly on the line, and having just overcome a back injury that forced him out of the Gabba Test and almost into oblivion, he batted superbly on Wednesday.
The early chance aside, the elder statesman revelled on a pitch considered slightly slow. He was deadly when given space outside off stump, pounced on anything veering down leg side and used his feet to spank Will Jacks back over his head.
Khawaja did not flourish in his only outings batting at No.4 in Galle in 2016 and in Perth last month, making just two runs. Coming to the crease early in Australia’s first innings added pressure, but he responded with his highest score since a magnificent double-century against Sri Lanka in late January.
Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee was far from surprised. When the former Blue made his way to the crease after the loss of Jake Weatherald and Head in quick succession, Lee said it was the type of situation Khawaja would revel in.
“The moment is set up beautifully for Usman. Through the circumstances to Steve Smith, he gets his opportunity,” Lee said on the Kayo Sports coverage.
“He would have been carrying the drinks. But if there is one guy suited in these circumstances against a brand new ball, it is Usman Khawaja.”
Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan, when pointing to the remarkable roller-coaster Khawaja has ridden during his career, made the boldest of predictions at the coin toss when asked about how the veteran would perform by declaring he would make a century. Khawaja fell short of that mark, but has another opportunity to further his hopes of continuing on later this week.
With Khawaja having declared he is keen to continue playing and with the certainty that comes with knowing retirement tends to be permanent, it has been a remarkable flourish. Certainly it serves as a reminder to selectors of his talent.
But if this is to be the left-hander’s last hurrah in Test cricket, the Sydney-raised star will leave content he has given his all in a fine career that sees him sit in the top 20 in Australian cricket for Tests played and Test match runs scored.
“The journey that I’ve had has been up and down, up and down,” he told foxsports.com.au in September.
“I feel like I probably should have played more Test matches than 80 or so after all this time. But I wouldn’t change my journey for any other reason or any other thing, because it was my journey.”
