Usman Khawaja Joins Elite Club, Surpasses 8,000 International Runs

Australia, Dec 26 : Australian opener Usman Khawaja achieved a major career milestone on Friday, completing 8,000 international runs during the fourth Ashes Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The 39 year old veteran scored 29 off 52 balls, including two fours, before being caught behind off Gus Atkinson.

Khawaja’s milestone underscores a stellar career spanning 136 international matches, where he has amassed 8,001 runs at an average of 42.55, including 18 centuries and 41 fifties. Test cricket remains his forte, with 6,206 runs in 87 matches at 43.70, while he has also contributed 1,554 runs in 40 ODIs and 241 runs in nine T20Is.

Returning to the crease at Melbourne after a strong outing at Adelaide, Khawaja has struggled with fitness and age, competing for his spot with Australia’s new opening pair, Travis Head and Jake Weatherald. In this Ashes series, he has scored 153 runs in four innings, including a half-century, with a best score of 82.

Australia, batting first after England elected to bowl, faced early setbacks. Openers Head and Weatherald were dismissed cheaply, leaving the Aussies at 31/2 in nine overs. Quick wickets of Labuschagne and Steve Smith further tilted the balance in England’s favour, reducing Australia to 51/4 in just under 20 overs. Khawaja, alongside Alex Carey (9*), steadied the innings, ending the first session at 72/4 with Khawaja unbeaten on 21.

Playing XI:
Australia: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith(c), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey(w), Cameron Green, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Scott Boland
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue

Khawaja’s achievement cements his place among Australia’s elite run-scorers, even as the team battles early pressure in the Boxing Day Test.