Usman Khawaja has revealed the reason behind his emotional celebration after his century against England in the ongoing 1st Ashes Test at Edgbaston. The southpaw starred with the bat to rescue Australia in the ongoing game.
In reply to England’s first innings total of 393 for 8, Australia were reeling at 67 for 3 and then 148 for 4. Even at 220 for 5, they were firmly on the backfoot. However, Usman Khawaja held firm from one end and shared crucial stands with the middle-order batsmen to put Australia in a solid start.
At stumps, Australia were on 311 for 5 thanks to an unbeaten 91-run stand between the opener and Alex Carey and are now in a position to take a first-innings lead. At the end of the day, Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 126 while Carey was not out on 52.
Before the stand against Carey, the Australia opener also shared crucial stands with Travis Head and Cameron Green. He added 81 with Head, who made 50, and 72 with Cameron Green. Both Head and Green were removed by Moeen Ali on his return to Test cricket.
Usman Khawaja on his emotional celebration:
Usman Khawaja celebrated his century wildly. As soon as he hit the ball for a four to reach his century, he let out a huge roar before throwing his bat in the air. Speaking at the end of the day, he revealed the reason behind his celebration.
Khawaja revealed how others doubting his ability to play in English conditions forced him to celebrate his century in that style. The Australia opener had averaged 17.78 in England before the ongoing Test. In his past 14 innings in England, he had passed fifty just once. He was also dropped from Australia’s Test side on previous tours to the UK in 2013 and 2019.
“I think it was a culmination of three Ashes tours to England, and being dropped on two of them,” Khawaja said of his emotional celebration.
“I don’t read the media, but when I’m getting sprayed in the nets and getting sprayed when I’m walking out there that I can’t bat in England, I guess it was just a bit more emotional than normal,” he added.
A magnificent ? from Usman Khawaja ?
The south-paw fights against all odds to get Australia back in the game ?#SonySportsNetwork #RivalsForever #ENGvAUS #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/yaz1Y7gIt1
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) June 17, 2023
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