Khawaja: Cricket Doesn't Control My Life After 16th Test Century

Synopsis

Usman Khawaja silenced critics with his 16th Test century in Galle, emphasizing life's balance beyond cricket. He praised teammate Steve Smith's achievements, reinforcing their strong partnership and Australia's position in the Test against Sri Lanka.

Key Takeaways

Khawaja scored his 16th Test century on a challenging pitch.
He emphasized faith and family over cricketing pressures.
Recognized Steve Smith's remarkable milestones.
The duo has a strong camaraderie developed over years.
Australia is in a strong position in the Galle Test.

Galle, Jan 29 (NationPress) Australian opener Usman Khawaja made a powerful statement against his critics by scoring a remarkable century on a challenging pitch in Galle during the initial Test match against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

This marks his 16th Test century, achieved in the second session, and breaks a 19-month dry spell for a three-figure score, solidifying his position in Australia's red-ball team.

Khawaja, recognized for his calm demeanor and mental strength, discussed his approach to overcoming challenging times in his career. After the match, he highlighted the significance of faith, family, and maintaining a balance beyond cricket.

"That's truly special. A century—everything is a blessing from the Almighty. I firmly believe that. In both good and bad times, I accept it in the same manner. Whatever is destined is for the best, even if it's not clear at the moment," Khawaja shared with Sen Cricket.

"I've faced numerous ups and downs where I've thought, 'How difficult can this be?' But something wonderful has always emerged from it. Therefore, I don't permit cricket to control my life. I have a wonderful family and a supportive wife. Life is much more than just cricket, but my passion for the game remains, and I will always give my best. I train diligently behind the scenes. However, the higher power governs everything, so in a way, I also release some control of it."

In addition to celebrating his own achievements, Khawaja praised his teammate Steve Smith, who had a historic day in Galle, reaching the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket and scoring his 35th Test century, further establishing his legacy as one of the greatest batsmen of his time.

Khawaja, who has partnered with Smith for over ten years, reminisced about their shared journey.

"That's really special. I've known Smudge since he was 16. We played first grade together, and grew up representing New South Wales. We've been teammates for Australia for a long time. I’ve batted with him more than anyone else in Test cricket. Our camaraderie is exceptional. It's amusing—we started as boys and have grown into men. It was truly special. I was eager to be there for his 10,000th run. I thought I would witness it in Sydney, but missed out, so I was thrilled to be present today. Yes, it’s really special. I’m very happy for him," he added.

With both Smith and Khawaja in peak form, Australia has established a strong position in the Galle Test. The pair aims to maintain their momentum as they continue batting on Day 2.

"And the journey isn't finished yet—expect to see Steve and me batting tomorrow, and we anticipate even better performance," Khawaja concluded with a grin.