Usman Khawaja celebrated his return to the Australia Test team by scoring a brilliant 137 against England in the ongoing fourth Test match of the Ashes 2021-22 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Khawaja was picked as a replacement of Travis Head for this Test after Head tested Covid positive.

Khawaja had last played a Test for Australia at Leeds against England in Ashes 2019 and this was a brilliant homecoming for the left-hander who was left out for almost three years in the wilderness.

"It was probably the most touching, humbling, amazing feeling out there getting that hundred. he roar that went up, the chanting of Uzzie, stuff you sort of dream of but never expect it to happen. I was excited, so pumped. Hundreds don't come very often, a lot of hard work goes into them. Got taken away by the moment, I've had so much support, the crowd has been excellent. It's been unbelievable,” Usman Khawaja said after the day ended.

Ashes 2021-22: WATCH - Usman Khawaja's wife and daughter react to his century on Test comeback

“I joke around with the boys about my past and where I've come from…but I'm quite serious. I am living the Australian dream. My parents came over here from Pakistan to give my family a better life. I'm representing Australia in our national sport and it's something that I absolutely love doing. I've gone through a lot of hard times, broken down a lot of barriers to get to where I am, and think at some level people can relate to that and I love them for it. The love I got out here today is something special, something I'll never forget,” he added.

Talking about working on his bating during the Covid times, Khawaja said: “I've put a lot of hard work in behind the scenes that people don't see. I've had a lot of support from my family, my parents, in particular my wife Rachael. A lot has gone on in that time; Covid, I've had a daughter, Rachael is pregnant with another child so a lot has gone on since I've been dropped. Never take anything for granted. I wasn't really sure if I was going to represent Australia again, let alone score a hundred, so it's amazing how life can work out both ways."

However, this may be only a one-off for Khawaja as Head is slated to return back into playing XI for the fifth Test at Hobart or Australia can make a spot for him somewhere given his flexibility.

(ESPNCricinfo inputs)