There’s a delicious irony to Usman Khawaja’s Test career ending, where it often felt like it began all over again in Sydney. The SCG will host his farewell Ashes Test, the 88th and final chapter of a 15-year journey that delivered 16 centuries, countless recalls, and more plot twists than a five-day draw in Rawalpindi.
Khawaja was never Australia’s obvious long-term solution. He was dropped, recalled, repositioned, and reimagined. At various points, he was considered too soft for pace, too slow for modern cricket, and too limited for Asian conditions, all labels he spent a career quietly dismantling.
A Long Road to First Belief
Khawaja’s 174 against New Zealand at Brisbane in 2015 was an exhale as well as being a first hundred. It had been more than two years since he’d last played for Australia, and before that, his highest Test score had been 65. He walked into bat at number three behind Warner & Burns, who’d made some runs and softened the bowling slightly. His 174 of 239 balls wasn’t as much about dominating as it was getting permission to be part of things. He earned the right to dominate, and when he did, he said it felt like an emotional relief and one that would be a theme.
When Adaptability Became Currency
The 145 against South Africa in Adelaide in 2016 showcased Khawaja’s underrated flexibility. Thrown into the opening role under lights after a late declaration, he didn’t blink. Batting nearly eight hours and facing 308 deliveries, Khawaja neutralized a fierce attack and reset Australia’s composure after the Hobart debacle. This wasn’t flair-driven batting; it was functional excellence. In hindsight, this innings quietly previewed his future as Australia’s most reliable long-format opener, even if it took selectors years to realize it.
Subcontinent Myths Finally Buried
Dubai, 2018, was the moment Khawaja dismantled the most stubborn narrative around his career. Labeled as unsuited to spin and heat, he responded with one of Australia’s great match-saving efforts: 141 off 302 balls against Pakistan. Context matters. This was post-sandpaper Australia, without Smith or Warner, chasing survival rather than redemption. After already resisting with 85 in the first innings, Khawaja became the immovable object that dragged Australia to the brink of a draw. When he finally fell, Tim Paine ensured the innings achieved its purpose. The myth didn’t survive the desert.
A Career Resurrected by One Chance
Khawaja had been relegated to an afterthought for his spot on the Australian team by the time the 2021-22 Ashes series began. He was dropped in 2019, but brought back onto the team when Travis Head contracted COVID-19. Khawaja used the Sydney test match as his last chance to prove himself – and did so with outstanding success. In the first innings of the test match, Khawaja hit an emotional 137 and demonstrated his skills through a most methodical approach. His double in the second innings cemented a short-term recall and made him virtually un-droppable. Not only did Khawaja score a 100-run century, but he also pressed a “career reset” button at the right time.
When Belonging Became the Performance
Karachi, 2022, was cricket layered with identity. Khawaja’s 160 against Pakistan came in his ancestral homeland, with chants of his name echoing through the stadium. After missing a hundred in Rawalpindi by three runs, he left nothing to chance. The pitch was friendly, yes, but the innings wasn’t casual. It was controlled, paced, and emotionally charged. This wasn’t just a Test hundred; it was a personal homecoming etched into the scorebook.
Key Takeaway
Usman Khawaja didn’t chase greatness; he waited for it.
FAQs
- What made Usman Khawaja’s Test career unique?
His ability to reinvent himself across roles, conditions, and career phases.
- Why is his Dubai 2018 innings considered special?
It shattered the myth that he couldn’t survive subcontinent conditions under pressure.
- How did the 2022 Ashes revive his career?
A surprise recall led to match-defining centuries that made him indispensable again.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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