Usman Khawaja was the cynosure of all eyes as he clobbered a superlative ton against England on Day 2 of the fourth Test in Sydney but what grabbed more eyeballs was his celebration after the ton. Usman celebrated his ton in American basketball star LeBron James’ signature celebratory style.
He celebrated with a high-knees strut and thumped his chest, copying King James' famous 'silencer'.
The left-hander made a magnificent 137 in Australia's 416-8 declared on day two, leaving the tourists staring at a major challenge to avoid another Ashes defeat at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Khawaja reached his second Ashes hundred after being given a life on 28 when an edge off Jack Leach grazed Jos Buttler and was dropped by England skipper Joe Root at first slip.
"It's the silencer - you probably shouldn't do it to a home crowd," said Khawaja after England closed on 13-0.
"I was so excited, everything just came up to me. I love LeBron James, so it just felt right," he added.
"I do it mucking around with the boys all the time and if I'm playing basketball and hit a few good shots I do it, so I've had a bit of practice at it, so it just happens.
"I love Test cricket. Sometimes it feels a bit traditional for my liking, so I like to give it a bit of spark," he further said.
Khawaja said of his near seven-hour innings: "It's pretty sweet. I wasn't expecting it. Hundreds don't come every day.
"It's a pretty tough wicket. I'm just trying to bat. I'm just trying to grind away. It's a lot of fun. I'm a bit tired, a bit lost for words. It's pretty special."
Khawaja said he had been "in a very good spot the last couple of years", despite being absent from the Australia team.
He has become a father, with his wife and daughter in the SCG crowd on Thursday, and has enjoyed his cricket despite dropping out of the Test side.
This might be a one-off recall, with Khawaja included due to Travis Head returning a positive COVID-19 test result.
"I said earlier, I've got nothing to prove to anyone," Khawaja said on beIN Sports.
“I love playing cricket, whether it's grade cricket down at my local club Valleys [Valley District], or playing for Queensland. I'm just really enjoying the game,” Khawaja signed off.
