Australia opener Usman Khawaja made history on Thursday as he scored his 12th Test century on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa. This achievement sees him join an elite group of batters who have scored three consecutive centuries at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Khawaja is the fourth Australian and seventh overall to achieve this feat at the SCG, joining the likes of Indian batsman VVS Laxman.
Khawaja, who was already on 54 when play was stopped on the first day due to rain with the hosts at 147/2 in 47 overs, continued his impressive form in the last 12 months which has seen him reach the century mark on five occasions. He reached his century on Thursday by pulling Kagiso Rabada for two runs in the morning session, taking 206 balls and hitting eight fours and one six in the process.
This century sees Khawaja become the fourth player to score three consecutive hundreds at the SCG, following hundreds in both innings of the Ashes Test against England at the SCG around the same time last year. The only other players to achieve this feat are Australian duo Wally Hammond and Doug Walters and Indian batsman Laxman.
Khawaja is the only Australian to average more than 100 in Sydney Tests (minimum five innings), a feat only achieved by England's Wally Hammond (161.60) and India's Sachin Tendulkar (157) in the ground's storied history. He also becomes the seventh player to have scored four or more Test hundreds in Sydney, a list that includes his opening partner David Warner.
"It's just a nice feeling, I've got friends in the crowd. It's where I grew up so it's always an honour to score runs here," Khawaja said after reaching the milestone.
At the second session drinks break on the second day, Khawaja was batting on 142 with Steve Smith on 92 as Australia reached 334/2 in 103 overs.