Because the rain continued to fall earlier than play on day 4 of the third Take a look at in opposition to South Africa on the SCGone man particularly hoped Australia continued batting earlier than making a declaration as soon as play ultimately resumed.
Usman Khawaja completed day two on 195 not out, and hoped skipper Pat Cummins let him bat on simply lengthy sufficient to deliver up his maiden double ton.
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Nonetheless, simply earlier than play acquired underway at 1:45pm on Saturday, Khawaja was left stranded 5 runs quick, lacking out on what would have been a historic milestone, with Cummins needing to declare to provide the Aussies an opportunity to power a consequence within the recreation.
Khawaja was so near his first double century in worldwide cricket, having beforehand notched seven Take a look at scores between 140 and 174.
Chatting with Channel 7 commentator Trent Copeland on the morning of day 4, earlier than Cummins’ resolution, Khawaja mentioned he was doing the whole lot he might to persuade Cummins to not declare so he might deliver up his double ton.
“I have been fairly good, I’ve supplied him dinner, supplied to take care of his youngsters, something he wants for the following 12 months – I am there,” Khawaja joked.
The 36-year-old mentioned it might be “harsh” if Cummins declared and left him in need of a historic double century.
“I feel it would be fairly harsh if he (Cummins) bowled immediately. I do not suppose that is going to occur,” Khawaja mentioned following the day three washout.
“He is (Cummins) been making a number of jokes … (saying) ‘I’ve let (South African skipper) Dean Elgar know that we wish to exit and have a bowl immediately’.
“We might go on the market and get a number of extra runs actually rapidly or we might declare just about immediately. I am not the captain… I do not make these selections.”
The fashionable left-hander has continued his superb kind on the SCG, citing his third century in a row on the floor – becoming a member of an illustrious group together with Wally Hammond, Doug Walters and VVS Laxman as the one gamers to realize the milestone.
Khawaja mentioned his self-discipline, method and mindset don’t change in any respect all through his innings.
“It does not change for me whether or not it is the primary ball or the 400th ball, I am nonetheless seeking to rating,” Khawaja defined to Copeland.
“In the event that they bowl effectively, I respect that ball. I perceive how totally different bowlers bowl to me.
“If the bowler does miss, I will should pounce on it, trigger I won’t get one for an additional six overs.”
Khawaja’s distinctive dance celebration after he scored his hundred lit up social media after youngsters across the nation thought it was a ‘TikTok’ dance. He refuted that although, describing himself as an “old fashioned gangster”.
“That is the crip stroll,” Khawaja joked about his strikes.
“That is Snoop Dogg proper there; that is 90’s r’n’b. That is been round for about 30 years. I am old fashioned gangster, that is all it’s.”
Australia declared their innings with an imposing rating of 4-475 as they hunt for an unlikely 3-Zero sequence whitewash with the match headed for an inevitable draw.
