Ashes 2023: "Ashes Hundred Means So Much To The Players" - Kevin Pietersen On Usman Khawaja’s Celebration After His Century

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen heaped praise on Australian opening batter Usman Khawaja for his brilliant century on Day 2 of the first Test in the Ashes 2023 series. Kevin Pietersen believes that scoring a century in overseas conditions turns a player into a complete batter.

Veteran batter Usman Khawaja scored an unbeaten century of 126 runs at Edgbaston on Saturday, June 17. The left-handed batter smashed 14 fours and two sixes during his knock. Khawaja fought hard to reach his fourth hundred against England in red-ball cricket, but first in English conditions.

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Speaking to Sky Sports, Kevin Pietersen said that a hundred in the Ashes series is a special feeling for cricketers, especially in away conditions.

“Oh, you just saw that with the celebration. He wanted to show that celebration again and again because an Ashes hundred means so much to the players. You can see how much it meant to him as well,” Pietersen said.

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“It’s for all foreign players. When you travel abroad, you wanna pick up runs, and you wanna be, at the end of your career, known as a player who could score all around the world.

To be that complete player, Australian, English, South African, Indian, West Indian player, whoever, you really wanna be known at the end of your career that you’ve done it in all conditions. For him, to tick the box here today in Birmingham is something that will give him great relief.”

A magnificent ? from Usman Khawaja ?

The south-paw fights against all odds to get Australia back in the game ?#SonySportsNetwork #RivalsForever #ENGvAUS #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/yaz1Y7gIt1

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) June 17, 2023

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That Partnership Has Got Australia To Within – Michael Atherton

Former England captain Michael Atherton praised Usman Khawaja’s partnership with Alex Carey for the sixth wicket and added that it helped the visitors make a comeback in the game.

“Setup for a fantastic Day 3. That innings from Khawaja and particularly, Carey tonight, that partnership has got Australia to within, not quite touching distance yet, one would assume [that] with the batting to come,” Atherton told Sky Sports.

Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey formed a crucial partnership for the sixth wicket, rescuing Australia from a precarious situation at 220/5. The duo put up an unbeaten 91-run partnership and helped the team finish with 311 runs at stumps on Day 2. The Pat Cummin-led team trailed by 82 runs against England.

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