Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen praised Australian opener Usman Khawaja for his century on Day 2 of the 2023 Ashes opener at Edgbaston on Saturday, June 17. The veteran has also said that an overseas century would give him ‘great relief’ as well. Pietersen further added that every player has to deliver away from home to be known as a complete batter. Meanwhile, Khawaja was absolutely pumped up after completing his hundred and even threw his bat in the air as well. While it was his 10th century against England, it was the first in England.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Kevin Pietersen said: “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. 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.”

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He concluded: “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.”

Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Atherton has praised Usman Khawaja (126*) for building an important partnership with Alex Carey (52*) for the sixth wicket as well. They added an unbeaten 91-run partnership to rescue Australia from a struggling situation, at 220/5, on Day 2 as well.

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He told Sky Sports: “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.”