Usman Khawaja lives his Australian dream

Nearly five years after Usman Khawaja made his Test debut to great fanfare, the Australian has finally posted the numbers to justify the hype.



Richly talented with a languid style that recalls David Gowar, the Pakistan-born batsman was hailed as Australia's future when he stood in for the injured Ricky Ponting in the final Test of the 2010-11 Ashes series. Rarely can innings of 37 and 21 from a number three batsman at the Sydney Cricket Ground have been lauded so highly, as the hosts looked for the slightest grounds for optimism after a humiliating 3-1 series defeat.

Eight more Test match appearances over the ensuing half decade bear witness to a potential unfulfilled, however, and it was not until a string of batting stalwarts retired in the wake of the latest Ashes failure that he got another opportunity. The 28-year-old cannot be accused of failing to grasp the chance with both hands against New Zealand at the Gabba.

Showing no signs of nerves despite more than two years since his last Test, Khawaja joined in Australia's run spree on Thursday to notch up his maiden Test century. Eschewing his usually cautious approach, he raced to the milestone with an array of sometimes sublime strokes, including two sixes that proved that elegance can get the ball over the boundary rope just as effectively as power.