Usman Khawaja is playing an all-time classic against India in the ongoing fourth Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The southpaw has smashed a stunning century to put Australia in the driver’s seat.
In a series where even the likes of Steve Smith and Virat Kohli have struggled to get runs, Usman Khawaja has stood apart. At present, he is currently the leading run-scorer in the series and has an average of over 55. At the time of compiling this report, Usman Khawaja was batting on 180 runs and is looking destined to score his maiden double century in Tests.
Australia, on the other hand, were comfortably placed at 409 for 7 at the tea break on day two of the fourth and final Test. Apart from Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green has also starred with the bat in the game. The highly-rated youngster scored his maiden Test ton and shared a stand of 208 runs with Khawaja.
Usman Khawaja breaks 44-year old record:
Usman Khawaja has showed remarkable patience in the ongoing Test. The Australia opener has rarely taken a risk during his inning on a pitch which has been really slow. It took him 146 deliveries to reach his fifty and another 100 balls to complete his century.
Prior to reaching his century, his knock also became the longest of the ongoing series when he went past 212 deliveries. By the time the day came to an end, he had faced 251 deliveries which was longer than three of the completed team innings for the series.
And Khawaja has played in the same manner on day 2. He has taken all the time in the world to keep the scoreboard ticking and frustrate the hosts. During the course of his marathon innings, he also broke a record that stood for more than 4 decades.
Khawaja now holds the record for playing the longest Test innings by an Australian against India in India. He broke Graham Yallop’s record of facing 392 balls against India in Kolkata, way back in 1979. At the time of compiling this report, Khawaja had faced 421 balls.
That’s it. Usman Khawaja has played the longest innings of any Australian in India, passing Graham Yallop’s 392 balls in Kolkata in 1979.
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) March 10, 2023