A career of grit, grace and greatness: revisiting Usman Khawaja’s finest innings

As Usman Khawaja bows out of international cricket, he leaves behind a career defined by resilience, patience, and an ability to rise when the moment demanded most. While his journey had its share of setbacks and comebacks, Khawaja’s legacy is best told through the marathon innings and match-shaping performances that made him one of Australia’s most dependable Test batters of his era.

The bulk of Khawaja’s greatest performances came in Test cricket, particularly after his memorable comeback in 2022, when he returned to the side and re-established himself as a cornerstone of Australia’s batting line-up. His top performances were not just about big numbers, but about impact, context, and composure under pressure.

DOUBLE CENTURY AGAINST SRI LANKA

At the top of the list stands his majestic 232 against Sri Lanka in Galle in January 2025. It was Khawaja’s highest Test score and his maiden double century, a masterclass in playing spin in subcontinental conditions. Batting with supreme control, he stitched together a monumental 266-run partnership with Steve Smith, setting up a dominant innings victory and underlining his mastery away from home.

TWIN CENTURIES AGAINST ENGLAND

Few innings, however, resonate as emotionally as his twin centuries against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2022. Returning to the Test side after a two-and-a-half-year absence, Khawaja produced a stunning 137 in the first innings and an unbeaten 101 in the second. The performance earned him Player of the Match and placed him in elite company, becoming just the 13th batter in history to score centuries in both innings of a Test.

BATTING MASTERCLASS AGAINST PAKISTAN

Khawaja’s ability to bat for time and save matches was showcased in Dubai in 2018, when he scored a gritty 141 against Pakistan. Chasing an unlikely draw, he batted for more than eight hours against world-class spin, displaying immense patience and mental strength to secure a hard-fought result for Australia.

A REDO FOUR YEARS LATER

In March 2022, Khawaja returned to the country of his birth and delivered one of the most poignant innings of his career. His superb 160 in Karachi helped Australia post a massive first-innings total of 505 and clinch a historic series win in Pakistan, with Khawaja finishing as the series’ highest run-scorer.

THE ASHES SUPREMACY

The Ashes once again brought out the best in him in 2023. In the opening Test at Birmingham, Khawaja anchored both innings with scores of 141 and 65, guiding Australia through tense passages and earning Player of the Match honours in a thrilling two-wicket win.

EXCELLENCE AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA

His run of excellence continued at home against South Africa in January 2023, when he made an unbeaten 195 at the SCG. Deprived of a double century only by declaration, the innings capped a phenomenal stretch that later saw him named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.

CAREER-REVIVING KNOCK AGAINST NEW ZEALAND

Earlier highlights included his maiden Test century of 174 against New Zealand in Brisbane in 2015, a career-reviving knock that announced his arrival at the top level, and commanding efforts such as 180 against India in Ahmedabad in 2023 and 171 against England at the SCG in 2018.

UNBEATEN AGAINST INDIA

Even in the shorter format, Khawaja showed his class, with an unbeaten 104 against India in Ranchi in 2019 guiding Australia to a successful ODI chase.

As the curtain falls on his international career, Usman Khawaja departs not just as a prolific run-scorer, but as a symbol of perseverance and quiet strength. His innings were built on patience, his success forged through belief, and his journey inspired countless fans who saw in him the power of resilience. Australian cricket will miss his calm presence at the crease, but his legacy, etched in long hours, brave battles, and unforgettable centuries, will endure long after his final Test.

Web Desk