Khawaja, who turns 39 years old on day two of the Adelaide Test, wasn’t initially selected but stepped up when Steve Smith was forced to withdraw

Usman Khawaja proved reports of his demise as an international cricketer were greatly exaggerated as he scored a defiant half-century on Wednesday on day one of the third Ashes test against England.

It does feel like Australia have left a lot of runs on the table after winning the toss and batting on good strip in hot weather at Adelaide Oval

Harry Brook dropped him early, a straightforward chance put down when Khawaja was on 5, and on a pitch that was good and true under the bright Adelaide sun, there was a hundred for the taking. Khawaja made a solid 82,

Usman Khawaja has been an ornament to Australian cricket, but the time has come to put him back on the mantelpiece.

Dropped in the slips when on three, Khawaja batted up to the cusp of tea before his 126-ball knock ended on 82 with a slog-sweep caught at deep square leg off the spin of Will Jacks.

Having worked back into the team following a switch from New South Wales to Queensland, Khawaja believed his Test career was over when he was dropped during the 2019 Ashes. But his appetite for runs and his desire to represent Australia never diminished, with Khawaja piling on the runs in domestic cricket as his mental strength and resilience grew.

Usman Khawaja has hit 82 for Australia on the opening day of the third Ashes Test following his last-minute reprieve, with the hosts 5-194 at tea.