'I don't know': Smith's SCG ton may be last as Khawaja makes hay in 'backyard' to put Aussies on track for series sweep

For everyone but Usman Khawaja, COVID-19 was one of life’s great disrupters. But for the 36-year-old it was his second coming.

One year ago, following an 863-day Test exile, Khawaja burst back onto the international landscape with twin hundreds against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

He was only given the opportunity to bat in the middle order because Travis Head had been ruled out with the virus following the Boxing Day Test.

Khawaja hasn’t looked back since grabbing that chance and the return to his backyard saw him rediscover his touch after a lean series to date.

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The majestic left-hander started the day on 54 after just 47 overs were bowled on day one, but when stumps were called on day two the opener had moved to 195 when rain brought day two to an abrupt end in Sydney on Thursday.

His brilliant, patient knock had put Australia in a dominant position at 4-475 after two days, with rain and bad light once again playing havoc in the Harbour City.

Usman Khawaja acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the field during day two of the 2023 New Year’s Test at the SCG. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

After starting the day 2-147, Khawaja and Steve Smith took the Test away from the Proteas as the pair put on 209 for the third wicket before the latter was caught and bowled by Keshav Maharaj for 104 to hand the tweaker his first wicket of the series.

While his departure was a soft ending to a brilliant innings, Smith had shown his greatness with an array of pulls and drives and flicks that showed the right-hander was very much back in control.

Along the way, the prolific batter had worked his way past some of Australia’s greats, as he shot past Matthew Hayden (8625) and then Michael Clarke (8643) into fourth on Australia’s all-time run-scorers list.

His pull shot to the square boundary also saw Smith bring up three figures for the 30th time, surpassing Sir Donald Bradman’s 29 centuries he hit across 52 Tests. Smith, by comparison, is playing his 92nd.

Just how much longer we will see the master batsman play remains to be seen.

Having hinted through the cricket season that he might not play as long as people think, Smith certainly did not underplay that the end is closer than the start of his career.

“I don’t know. We’ll see,” Smith said following his 104, which ended when he hit back to Keshav Maharaj to hand the spinner his first wicket of the series.

“I’m enjoying it at the moment. I really can’t say how long I’ll play for. I’m not sure.

“Take it one tour at a time. Just enjoy it and enjoy training and trying to get better as well.

“Whilst I’m doing that I’m happy playing. But I don’t know how long it’ll last.”

Smith’s departure, however, didn’t stem the bleeding for the tourists.

Travis Head scored his third straight half-century, as he blazed his way to a quick-fire 70 before giving Kagiso Rabada his first wicket of the match.

His dismissal saw Matt Renshaw complete his remarkable comeback to Test cricket, with the Queensland left-hander contracting COVID-19 early on day one.

Renshaw was five not out when the covers were called for midway through the final session.

But the day belonged to Khawaja, who started the day with a flurry after the grind of day one.

When he cut Rabada he moved to within two runs of a 13th century during the second session. One ball later and Khawaja had his third straight century at the SCG, as he pulled Rabada and took the arm on from the deep to scramble back for his second run.

Khawaja leapt into the air like his childhood mate David Warner had a week earlier.

Usman Khawaja celebrates his century with Steve Smith at the SCG. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Then he danced like a man high on life with no one watching him in the shower.

Except, a strong crowd of 27,663 had made their way into the ground by the second session to witness him become just the fourth player in Test history to score three straight hundreds at the SCG following the great Wally Hammond, Doug Walters and VVS Laxman.

“There’s been three Tests played against South Africa this series; one in Brisbane, one in Melbourne and one in Usman Khawaja’s backyard,” Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket. “That has been the story of the day.

“This guy is so comfortable the moment he goes out of his back door into the SCG, he just bats forever.”

Adam Gilchrist added: “Wonderful scenes, wonderful acknowledgment. Three in a row for Usman Khawaja at this venue. It’s the ground where he resurrected his career. He didn’t think he was going to play again with that badge on his helmet. Jeez has he come back.”

Australian captain Pat Cummins now has a decision to make.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

With 475 runs on the board, Australia have enough runs in the bank if the past two massive victories, including the innings victory in Melbourne, are anything to go off.

But in an age where captains rarely like to give an opposition an inch, he might be tempted to bat longer. He need not though.

With more rain expected on day three, Cummins will unlikely want to enforce a follow-on should it present itself given he has just two fast bowlers at his disposal.