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Ashes 2023 | Usman Khawaja Unlocks Major Test Milestone With Commanding Knock At The Oval

image-lkpqidolUsman Khawaja in action on Day 4 (Twitter)

Usman Khawaja took centre stage with opening partner David Warner for Australia on Day 4 of the 2023 Ashes decider. In pursuit of 384 runs to seal the series, the left-hander scored an unbeaten 69 and shared 135 runs for the opening wicket before rains interrupted play and called for an early stumps.

Notably, Khawaja also unlocked a major Test landmark with his Day 4 special, one which he achieved in the 66th match of his career.


Khawaja becomes 21st Australian to achieve this milestone

Usman Khawaja launched the 2023 Ashes with splendid match-winning knocks in the first two Tests of the series. The cricketer lost his track in his subsequent two outings at Leeds and Manchester, respectively, before regaining his lost touch in the decider at The Oval.

The 36-year-old scored 47 in the first Australian innings and reached an unbeaten 69 in the all-important run-chase by stumps on Day 4. During the course of his latest effort, the batting veteran completed 5,000 career runs in Tests, achieving the feat in 117 innings.

Khawaja now sits at 5,001 runs across 66 matches, doing so at an average of 47.62.

Notably, he became the 21st Australian batter in Tests to cross over 5,000 runs, thus joining an elite list in his country’s rich history. Among those 21 batters, former captains Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh are the only ones to have scaled the 10,000-run threshold, while fellow batting legend Steve Smith is on the verge of joining the elite group.

In the meantime, Australia will resume Day 5 of the fifth Ashes 2023 Test at 135-0, still, 249 runs away from achieving their target.