Usman Khawaja has asserted himself as king of the SCG with another century to help Australia tighten its hold on South Africa in the final Test of the series.
Almost a year ago to the day, Khawaja's two-and-a-half year absence from Test cricket came to an end in the Ashes at the SCG, and he celebrated in style by twice knocking his way into triple figures.
The 36-year-old opener has picked up where he left off in the third Test against South Africa, bringing up his ton in the first session on day two.
He became only the fourth man, and second Australian, to score centuries in three consecutive Test innings at the SCG, after Wally Hammond, Doug Walters and VVS Laxman.
Khawaja has the highest average of any man who has played more than five Tests at the SCG and was 10th overall with 115.00 at the time he brought up his century.
He has posted the equal-second most centuries of any man at the SCG (four), trailing only Ricky Ponting, who managed six.
Right-arm spinner Simon Harmer gave left-handed Khawaja plenty to think about as he turned the ball with ease on day one.
But neither Harmer nor in-form paceman Anrich Nortje could remove him as David Warner (10) and Marnus Labuschagne (79) fell on a rain-affected day.
With more rain forecast, Australia needed to regroup on day two and make the most of their time in the middle before the wicket deteriorated any further.
The pitch is tipped to help spinners the longer the match goes on but the tweakers posed Khawaja few problems on day two.
He belted Keshav Maharaj over deep extra cover for the first six of the Test in a highlight of his innings.
On 94, he brought up his 13th Test ton with a four through the gully and then sprinted back for two runs after hitting to deep backward square leg on the next ball.
© AAP 2023