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Australian opener Usman Khawaja achieved a rare feat in Test cricket on Day 5 of first Test of Ashes 2023. As Khawaja walked out to bat after rain delay, he became the first Australian batter since 1980 to bat on all five days of a Test match. Overall, he is the 13th in Test cricket’s history to achieve the feat.
For Australia, former cricketer Kim Hughes was the first batter to bat on all five days of a Test. Hughes did it against England at Lord's in 1980.
Khawaja is the third batter to bat on all five days of a Test in 2023. West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul did it against Zimbabwe earlier this year. The first batter to do it was India's Motganhalli Jaisimha. The opener did it against Australia in Kolkata in 1960.
Before stepping on to the field on Day 5, Khawaja had 34 runs to his name as Australia needed 174 more runs to win the Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Despite wickets falling from the other end, Khawaja batted patiently and got to his half-century. His resilience was ended by England skipper Ben Stokes. Introducing himself for the first time in the innings, Khawaja dragged the ball on to his stumps.
The Australian opener scored 65 runs from 197 deliveries including seven fours. Earlier, in the first innings, Khawaja scored a century. He scored 141 runs from 321 deliveries including 14 fours and three sixes. The southpaw's 141-run knock helped Australia post 386 on the board, seven less than England's first innings score.
On Day 4, Khawaja achieved another feat alongside David Warner. Khawaja and Warner became the first Australian opening pair in eight years to share a 50-run stand in Ashes on England soil.
"Honestly, I thought that 44 Test matches, my career was done. I was very content and happy. Most people don't get to play 44 Test matches. Scored 8 hundreds, been a part of Ashes-winning teams, lots of winning teams. So when I got an opportunity to play again, honestly every Test feels like a bonus. Nothing lasts forever, so I am enjoying the ride," the 36-year-old had told the media after his 15th Test century.
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