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Khawaja shines on rain-hit day

Australia stumbles, wastes solid start to lose four wickets

SYDNEY: Usman Khawaja gave a glimpse into the future as Australia wasted a solid start on the rain-marred opening day of the final Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.

The Pakistan-born Khawaja, 24, the first Muslim to play a Test for his adopted country and replacing injured Ricky Ponting, fitted in seamlessly with a poised debut before he fell for 37.

Australia, under acting captain Michael Clarke and attempting to prevent England from winning its first series Down Under in 24 years, relinquished a solid start to be 134 for four when play was washed out late in the day.

Accomplished knock

Khawaja's accomplished two-hour knock ended when he attempted to sweep Graeme Swann only to get a top edge to Jonathan Trott at backward square-leg.

His first 15 runs came off 10 balls but England's bowlers pinned him down and his next 22 runs were grafted off 85 balls.

Khawaja caressed a two and a boundary off his first two balls in Tests to get off the mark through the leg-side and looked secure with his parents nervously watching from the stands.

But he was outwitted when Swann tossed one up in the 59th over of the innings and he committed his first false stroke.

Australia was looking to restore confidence after its crushing innings defeat in the fourth Melbourne Test that meant England retained the Ashes.

Clarke's dismal series continued when he went hard at Tim Bresnan and hit straight to James Anderson in the gully.

Clarke, standing in for Ponting in this Test, struggled for 21 balls before he attempted to cut a ball too close to his body to give the chance just 11 minutes after a rain resumption.

Clarke has scored just 152 runs in eight innings in the series at an average of 19.

More assured

The Australians looked more assured in their batting early after Clarke won the toss.

The opening pair of Shane Watson and Phillip Hughes patiently left the majority of balls and put on 55 for the first wicket before Hughes fell in the last over before lunch.

Hughes's concentration wavered when he needlessly sparred at a Chris Tremlett delivery outside off stump to edge to Paul Collingwood at third slip. Hughes had showed great application for his 31 off 93 balls up to that point with just three balls left in the session.

Watson played forward to a Bresnan outswinger and edged to Andrew Strauss at first slip.

Watson toiled for three hours for his 45 and could be heard to cry “Oh, no” as Strauss pocketed the catch. Bresnan followed up his six wickets in the Melbourne Test to have two wickets for 47 off 16 overs.

Rain and bad light forced a couple of interruptions during the day and play was washed out from the time Khawaja was dismissed.

Showers are forecast to clear early on Tuesday.

England outplayed Australia in heavy defeats in Adelaide and Melbourne to lead the series 2-1 while Australia won the third Perth Test and the first Brisbane Test was drawn.

England was the last team to beat Australia at the SCG in 2003 when Andy Caddick claimed seven for 94 after Michael Vaughan had amassed 183 in the second innings to pull off a massive 225-run triumph.

England has a good record in Sydney, winning 21 times in 53 Tests. — AFP

Australia — 1st innings: S. Watson c Strauss b Bresnan 45, P. Hughes c Collingwood b Tremlett 31, U. Khawaja c Trott b Swann 37, M. Clarke c Anderson b Bresnan 4, M. Hussey (batting) 12, B. Haddin (batting) 0, Extras (lb-4, nb-1) 5; Total (for four wkts. in 59 overs) 134.

Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-105, 3-113, 4-134.

England bowling: Anderson 20-5-34-0, Tremlett 16-6-40-1, Bresnan 16-4-47-2, Swann 5-3-6-1, Collingwood 2-1-3-0 .

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