Everyone at the SCG on Thursday afternoon was muttering the same question as Usman Khawaja brought up his 13th Test century.
How was this guy not in the team for two years?
Khawaja has been the best opener in Test cricket over the last 12 months, plundering 1275 runs at 79.68 in 12 matches, including five centuries.
With the exception of a couple of edges throughout the slips cordon, his unbeaten 195 against South Africa was essentially faultless. He looked in complete control.
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“It was a great innings. I thought he played exceptionally well from ball one,” Australian vice-captain Steve Smith told reporters at stumps.
“Hit his areas, was nice and patient when he needed to be, played the spin well.
“He’s just really comfortable the way he’s playing.
“He’s got scoring options all around the ground. If you set a certain field, he can play a certain way to get a boundary.”
The second coming of Usman Khawaja has been extraordinary to witness, particularly when considering the bizarre circumstances in which he revived his Test career.
The Queenslander was dropped during the 2019 Ashes series, losing the coveted No. 3 spot to Marnus Labuschagne ahead of the fourth Test in Old Trafford. It came after an underwhelming eight months for the left-hander, averaging 28.80 with the bat in nine Tests between December 2018 and August 2019.
Khawaja returned to Queensland and refined his craft in the Sheffield Shield, tightening his technique and solidifying his defence.
“He‘s obviously come back and really worked hard,” South African spinner Keshav Maharaj told reporters on Thursday.
“You can see he plays all around the wicket, he trusts his defence really well and he knows his scoring opportunities. He‘s got really good hands. He’s worked really hard and he’s a different player to what he was four years ago against spin.”
During the 2021/22 summer, Khawaja plundered 460 runs in five Sheffield Shield matches at 65.71, including back-to-back centuries against South Australia and Tasmania.
National selectors rewarded his consistency by naming him as the squad’s reserve batter for that summer’s Ashes series. He watched from the sidelines as Australia dominated England in the opening three Tests at Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, retaining the urn in emphatic fashion.
But on New Year’s Eve, news emerged that Travis Head had tested positive for Covid-19, and would be required to complete seven days of quarantine in Melbourne, ruling him out of the SCG Test. It created a vacancy for Khawaja in the starting XI, and he didn’t waste the golden opportunity.
Khawaja peeled off twin centuries in the New Year’s fixture against England, becoming just the sixth Australian to achieve the feat in an Ashes Test. It was one of cricket‘s great comeback stories.
He was suddenly undroppable. National selectors were forced to find space for him in the side, and Marcus Harris was the unlucky batter who made way.
“I’ve put a lot of work in, a lot of time behind the scenes that people don’t see,” Khawaja told reporters last year.
“Never take anything for granted. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever play for Australia again, let alone score a century for Australia.
“It’s amazing how life can work out.”
Khawaja is enjoying his cricket more than ever. He used to be a nervous wreck in the dugout waiting to bat, but now he’s cherishing every moment in Australian whites.
He genuinely believed he’d never get another opportunity to don the baggy green.
Starting a family fast-tracked Khawaja’s maturation over the last couple of years, helping make him one of the most likeable members of the national squad and Australian cricket altogether.
“At this time in my career, I’m so relaxed; I’m just enjoying the ride,” he said in August.
“These are all bonuses. I wasn’t expecting to play Test match cricket again … I’m not holding as strongly onto it as I was before.
“I have two beautiful daughters, I’ve got a wife, I’ve got a lot outside the game which I’m really happy with.
“I used to get a lot of people come up to me saying, ‘Uzzie, you’re so serious, you’re so serious all the time’. I’m actually not so serious. I’m trying to make a conscious effort to show people the real Uzzie.”
Retirement speculation has followed David Warner all summer, but his opening partner is seemingly in the prime of his career. Smith believes Khawaja has earned the right to decide for himself when to hang up the boots, which may not happen for another 24 months.
“At the moment, he’s at the top of his game, isn’t he?” Smith said.
“He’s scoring runs at will. He’s batting beautifully.
“At the moment, he’s pretty comfortable.”
Earlier this summer, Khawaja was asked whether any retirement thoughts were popping into his head. He responded with a grin.
“The People’s Champion will just keep giving as long as people want it.”
