Usman Khawaja creates history with sensational double ton in Sri Lanka, becomes first Aussie to...

Veteran Australia opener Usman Khawaja roared back into form with his career-best performance during the ongoing first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle. Usman Khawaja scored his maiden double-century in Test cricket during the first innings at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday, January 30.

Khawaja silenced critics with a brilliant century in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. His place in the team had been under scrutiny after a disappointing Border-Gavaskar series against India, where he managed only 184 runs in 10 innings. Some former players suggested the 38-year-old batter should retire.

However, Khawaja held his spot in the squad for the two-match series and capitalized on the opportunity by scoring his 16th Test century in challenging conditions. He regained confidence with much-needed big innings. The left-handed batter converted his century into a maiden double ton in Tests.

Resuming on Thursday morning at 2:30, Khawaja and captain Steve Smith continued from the previous day. They put on a 266-run stand for the third wicket, setting a new record for Australia’s highest Test partnership in Sri Lanka. Khawaja reached his double century with a soft shot into the covers.

Khawaja also became just the 12th player in history to score a Test double century at the age of 38 or older. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (203* in 2012) and Younis Khan (216 in 2016) have achieved this feat in the 21st century. Among Australians, Sir Donald Bradman was the only other batter to have done so.

Usman Khawaja Becomes the Sixth Australian to Score a Test Double Century in Asia

Khawaja became the sixth Australian to score a Test double-century in Asia, joining an elite list of batters. Greg Chappell was the first to achieve this feat against Pakistan in 1980. The most recent Australian before Khawaja to reach a double hundred in Asia was Jason Gillespie in Bangladesh in 2006.

Double-Hundreds by Australians in Asia

Usman Khawaja Creates History as First Australian to Hit Test Double Century in Sri Lanka

Chris Gayle holds the record for the most runs scored in a Test innings by an opposition batter in Sri Lanka. The former West Indies batter achieved this feat by scoring 333 runs off 437 balls in a match against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2010.

Highest Test Score by an Overseas Batter in Sri Lanka

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