Watch: Usman Khawaja Throws Bat Up In Air, Gets Emotional After Ashes Century

Usman Khawaja said the taunts of the Edgbaston crowd spurred him on to an "emotional" maiden Test hundred in England as he led Australia's fightback in the Ashes opener on Saturday. Australia were reeling at 67-3 after Stuart Broad struck twice in two balls to remove David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, the world's top-ranked Test batsman, before England captain Ben Stokes captured the prize wicket of Steve Smith. Yet they recovered to 311-5 at stumps on the second day, 82 runs behind England's first-innings 393-8 declared, with left-handed opener Khawaja 126 not out.

Broad later blasted the pitch as "soulless".

Khawaja's more than six-and-a-half hour stay may have lacked the dynamism of some of England's 'Bazball' batting, but there was no denying the value of an innings that still featured 14 fours and two sixes.

A magnificent from Usman KhawajaThe south-paw fights against all odds to get Australia back in the game #SonySportsNetwork #RivalsForever #ENGvAUS #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/yaz1Y7gIt1

The 36-year-old's seventh hundred in 18 Tests since he was recalled last year also ended a decade-long wait to reach three figures at this level on English soil.

Prior to this innings, Khawaja's top score in a Test in England was 54, with his corresponding average a lowly 19.60.

"When I'm getting sprayed (barracked) by the crowd as I'm walking out there today and as I'm going to nets being told that I can't score runs in England...I guess it was just a bit more emotional than normal," he said.

Khawaja, who attended Saturday's post-play press conference with his daughter Aisha, said having his family around him helped ease the pressures surrounding what is set to be his last tour of England.

- 'Thought my career was over' -