Usman Khawaja has asserted himself as the modern-day king of the SCG, etching his name among elite company at the ground just down the road from where he grew up.
Almost a year to the day after he made two centuries on his Test return at the SCG, the left-hander added another to his tally against South Africa on Thursday.
The SCG is now also the site of Khawaja's highest Test score; just after tea, Khawaja pulled Marco Jansen to fine leg for four and surpassed his previous personal best of 174.
He was unbeaten on 195 when wet weather forced stumps to be pulled up early.
Born in Pakistan before moving to Sydney as a youngster, Khawaja now lives in and represents Queensland and has even gone as far as supporting the Maroons in the State of Origin.
But when it comes to cricket, Khawaja feels most at home on the sacred turf of the SCG.
Khawaja was brought up on the Heffron Park wicket seven kilometres away, where he played with Test opening partner David Warner, and it was at the SCG that Khawaja watched all of his Test cricket as a youngster.
He debuted on the ground against England in 2011, posting what remains the most-hyped 37 in recent memory, before hitting his first Ashes century at the same venue in 2018.
Last year, he revived his career at the ground with twin hundreds on his return to the Test team, having since nailed down his role as Australia's most reliable opener.
Now, Khawaja's name is immersed in the history of the famous Sydney Cricket Ground.
When he brought up his century in the first session, Khawaja 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 also has the highest average of any man who has played more than five Tests at the SCG.
He has posted the equal-second most centuries of any man at the SCG (four), trailing only Ricky Ponting, who managed six.
Only right-armed off-spinner Simon Harmer troubled left-handed Khawaja, as he turned the ball away from him with ease on day one.
But Khawaja had 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.
He began to motor on after lunch as he and Steve Smith built up a 209-run partnership and did not let up even after Travis Head replaced Smith at the crease.
© AAP 2023