Usman Khawaja joined a select group of batsmen by scoring back-to-back hundreds in the Sydney Test on Saturday, but he believes it will not be enough to keep his spot in Australia's lineup for the final Ashes match.
With his 137 and unbeaten 101, the stylish 35-year-old left-hander joined Australian batting legends Doug Walters and Ricky Ponting as the only players to make two centuries in a Sydney Test, though he accepted it would not be enough to keep his spot for the fifth Test in Hobart.
Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan, was brought into the team only to protect Covid victim Travis Head, and he made the most of his opportunity with fairytale double centuries.
He has already been promised a place in the Hobart Test by captain Pat Cummins, with the suspicion that it will be at the expense of Marcus Harris, who missed an opportunity to confirm his position in the Sydney Test yet again.
"To tell you the truth, I had a lot of pleasure batting at number five in this Test match." "You can't really compare opening to five," he said.
" I came in here for Travis Head because he's had a fantastic series, and I know the selectors have had to make a lot of tough decisions in this series, and I don't expect it to be any different this time because I know they've had to make a lot of tough decisions in the past.
"It's just how things are." "All I've done is got an opportunity to play for Australia, and I'm grateful for that." The hunger hasn't gone away. If an opportunity comes up, I've shown that I can still score runs at this level."
Khawaja has impressed cricket fans with his smooth shot-making and is a big reason why England faces an additional challenge chasing down 388 runs in the last innings on Sunday.
Khawaja's undefeated century came off just 131 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes, and he hit triple figures with a strong pull shot around midwicket.
It's his 10th Test century, and his third against England, both at the SCG.
The great Victoria Trumper is the only other Australian cricketer with three Ashes centuries at the SCG.