As it happened - Australia vs England 4th Test Sydney 4th day

Usman Khawaja became the new king of the SCG achieving the stunning feat of twin centuries in an Ashes Test to put Australia in position to keep the whitewash alive if they can take 10 England wickets on the final day.

Khawaja reached rare air in his comeback Test after being left out of the side for two-and-a-half years. His second-innings 101 not out saw him become the third man behind Doug Walters and Ricky Ponting to score twin hundreds at the SCG, the ninth to do it in an Ashes Test and just the tenth player in Test history to score twin centuries batting at No.5 or lower. Incredibly, Khawaja’s match tally of 238 runs moved him past every single England player’s series tally bar Joe Root.

Cameron Green made his second-highest Test score of 74 and put on the highest partnership of the series with Khawaja, 179, to take Australia from a wobbly position at 4 for 86 to a declaration where they set England 388 to win with a day and an hour to play.

But England’s maligned opening pair of Zak Crawley and Haseeb Hameed weathered another probing examination from Australia’s quicks to steer the visitors safely to stumps as storm clouds engulfed the SCG. They put on their highest partnership of the series, 30, and survived 11 overs under floodlights to leave England an improbable 358 to win on the final day or 98 overs to survive, weather permitting.

Sampath Bandarupalli from ESPNcricinfo's stats team has run the numbers on Usman Khawaja's achievements: Usman Khawaja - only the 9th player to score centuries in both innings of an Ashes Test. Also only the 3rd player after Doug Walters and Ricky Ponting to score twin Test 100s at the SCG, and just the 10th player in Test cricket to score centuries in both innings while batting at No.5 and lower. This is also the highest partnership of the series.

Cameron Green brought up his second Test half-century with a cracking pull shot off Mark Wood over midwicket. This might be innings that breaks the shackles for him. He has been a nervous starter throughout the series and has really struggled. He wasn't in great batting form prior to the Ashes in the Sheffield Shield. Following an early-season hundred against South Australia on a flat track at Karen Rolton Oval his form tailed off. But he has found some confidence with the ball and fought his way through a tough period today with the bat to register a confidence boosting fifty.

Andrew McGlashan ponders the selection quandary facing Australia's panel: Usman Khawaja’s comeback just keeps getting better. Australia weren’t exactly in trouble in this innings but he has ensured against a wobble in building a big lead. It’s been another lovely innings. And while it’s significant in the context of today’s play, it’s also significant in what is to come. Can he really be left out in Hobart? Travis Head has been told he will play. The only option for the selectors is to make a call on Marcus Harris who, as mentioned previously, missed his chance today to do what Khawaja has done. It’s not a perfect solution because Khawaja is really a middle-order batter, but he averages over 90 from a small selection of Tests opening the batting including a hundred in a day-night Test against South Africa. He would have replaced David Warner in Adelaide if his rib injury had been serious. It’s a delicate call for the selectors to make in the next few days.

Khawaja has now made more runs in the series than every England player bar Joe Root. Shiva Jayaraman also notes Khawaja has made the most runs by a No.5 batter or lower in an Ashes Test.

It's going to be hard to leave Usman Khawaja out now. On a surface where a lot of batters have struggled, Khawaja has added a half-century in the second innings to his brilliant 137 in the first innings. He has looked a class above again bringing a level of calm and composure that has been needed for Australia. He has helped Cameron Green navigate a tricky period. Khawaja now has more runs in this game than every Englishman in the series bar Joe Root and Dawid Malan. He could go past Malan in this innings if he reaches 69. He also has outscored teammate Marcus Harris' series return in two innings.

Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green have guided Australia to tea with an unbeaten 63-run stand after falling to 4 for 89. Jack Leach bowled very well in the middle session to pick up two wickets but Khawaja has looked a cut above again and has hardly been troubled despite the surface playing tricks still. Green has looked nervy and uncomfortable throughout but two boundaries off Jimmy Anderson freed him up just before the break. Australia will likely look to press on towards a lead of 350 plus before sending England in tonight.

Usman Khawaja spoke to Fox Cricket's spidercam at drinks about the surface: "From this Randwick end, batting there, there's a naughty little spot just on the rib-tickler for the left-hander, so it's not ideal but it's actually in play for both. We had a few that have hit that and kind of pop up, a couple have stayed down too but it's going be one of those days where it's pot luck. If you get out to that there's not much you can do about it. Yeah, it's a good cricket wicket." (On Leach): "He's got a bit more confidence in himself, got a couple of wickets. There's a little bit there for him. It's inconsistent. I'd probably rather it ragging consistently, even more, right now it's a bit inconsistent. Some are going, most are going pretty straight. Makes it a little bit harder to predict. So he's bowling well, and credit to him." (On the declaration): "I'd like to get up above 300. I think Patty wants to get up above 300."

Andrew McGlashan: England are continuing to show some character in this game by chipping away at Australia. Mark Wood has been superb and it’s terrific to see him get some reward. Impressive bottle shown by Jack Leach, too, who has had the joy of removing Steven Smith. The pattern of this match reminds me a little of 1998-99 Test at the SCG – albeit the first-innings scores are higher – with England conceding a hefty lead, fighting back with the ball (for Peter Such read Jack Leach) before, ultimately, they fell short in a chase. That pitch turned a lot more than this one, it was a proper old-fashioned SCG surface, so much so that Australia fielded three spinners and used Colin Miller’s medium pace with the new ball. Anyway, I digress. It already feels Australia are not far away from a defendable total. There’s been some startling lift from back-of-a-length for Wood as well. Anything over 250 would be very tough. However, it’s a big period coming up for Cameron Green who could do with a few runs. And Alex Carey who is next in.

Sampath Bandarupalli notes that Steve Smith has registered his lowest Test score at the SCG since 2014 after being clean bowled by Jack Leach for 23. Andrew McGlashan wonders whether Leach is about to have his Peter Such moment?

Mark Wood has got a stranglehold on Marnus Labuschagne since the Boxing Day Test. Labuschagne started the series supremely with scores of 74, 0*, 103 and 51 in the first two Tests. But Wood's extra pace has caused him all sorts of trouble since. Wood has bowled 25 balls at Labuschagne in the last three innings for 12 runs, one boundary, and has knocked him over three times. All have been caught behind either defending or flashing off the back foot outside off. Opposition teams the world over will be taking note of Wood's methods as Labuschagne's Test average dips below 60.

Marcus Harris looked pretty good again for his 27 in the second innings but has fallen for yet another start after edging Jack Leach to stand-in wicket-keeper Ollie Pope. He now has just three Test fifties in 26 innings and no centuries. He did play very well in Melbourne with a match-winning 76. He's hardly had any luck. Usman Khawaja made a magnificent century in the first innings on return and could be the man to replace Harris if the selectors go that way but even Khawaja was dropped on 28. David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith have been beneficiaries of multiple chances in this series. Harris has only given one life in the entire series, a difficult half-stumping chance down the legside in Melbourne and he was already 63 at that point.

Andrew McGlashan notes: Marcus Harris might have one Test left to save his Test career. If that sounds dramatic, he’s twice missed out on the chance to make a substantial score in this match having done so much hard work in Melbourne. He’s fallen to lose pokes in both innings here, against James Anderson in the first innings and Jack Leach. It might not be runs-or-bust in Hobart – George Bailey is big on loyalty – but a top score of 79 from 14 Tests has left him vulnerable. Part of this is the form of Usman Khawaja. While Khawaja may not play the next Test due to the hierarchy of selection with Travis Head being available, the Pakistan series in March would be a fresh start. One thing in Harris’ favour could be the uncertainty over whether the Sheffield Shield will be able to resume because of the Covid situation. If others can’t stake a claim – Will Pucovski for example – the selectors may back in the incumbent for now. But Harris has left himself under some pressure.

Stuart Broad spoke to Fox Cricket's spider cam during the drinks break: "Our job is to try and take wickets with this new ball and keep the economy rate down, 147 lead and 76 overs left in the day we want to be creating chances as much as possible. It's obviously had two heavy rollers this morning so the pitch has slowed down a little bit, but we just have to try and minimize our bad balls, make it as hard for Australia to score as possible, build pressure that way. And the quickest way of slowing the scoring rate down is taking wickets. Woody has bowled a really good spell. It's about holding the game for us for a long period here." (How do you bowl this pitch?): "It's changed a lot hasn't it. We talked about this before the game. At the SCG the pitch can evolve during the game as well. We saw yesterday morning was probably the best time to bowl with the clouds in. Really nipped around and bounced. The sun is out today obviously with the roller it has slowed down and is a little bit less responsive from length, so we just need to hold for long periods and then we might have an hour where the ball might start reversing or it starts to spin and we can really attack. This little period here before the lunch break, get one of these, build some pressure on Smith and build pressure like they did before lunch yesterday by bowling no bad balls."

Andrew McGlashan gives his observations from the ground: This Test feels in a bit of a wait-and-see pattern now as Australia aim to build a lead for a declaration later in the day. Of course, England can have a say by taking wickets and they already have one in removing David Warner – an important strike because he loves a second-innings dash. The edge provided a catch for Ollie Pope who is subbing in behind the stumps for Jos Buttler with Jonny Bairstow also injured. It’s not the first time Pope has kept in Test cricket, he was actually selected as a keeper against New Zealand in Hamilton after Buttler had been injured. He grabbed just the one catch in that game and, of course, this one won’t go on his official tally. You would think it unlikely England will select him as the keeper in Hobart having called Sam Billings into the squad as cover

Australia would be well-pleased with that 45-minute period. England only reduce the lead by 36 runs after losing their final three wickets and Australia did not need the second new ball. Pat Cummins and Cameron Green weren't needed to bowl while Mitchell Starc only bowled two overs. Scott Boland continued his ridiculous wicket-taking run bagging 4 for 36 including the key wicket of Jonny Bairstow for a phenomenal 113. Boland currently has the best bowling average of any Test cricketer with 10 wickets or more. Australia's batters won't have an easy time on this pitch. But if they can post a lead of 250 plus, you would think that would be enough. England still haven't made 300 in the series.

Cricket Australia confirmed fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will remain in Sydney for further rehabilitation on a side injury prior to the white ball series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Australia coach Justin Langer said last night that Hazlewood was unlikely to play in Hobart and it has been agreed he would remain in Sydney for the next three weeks before joining the squad for the One-Day International Series against New Zealand and T20 International Series against Sri Lanka. The New Zealand and Sri Lanka Series will form part of his preparations for the Test and white-ball tour of Pakistan from early March.

Big injury news today is that Ollie Pope will keep whenever England field. Jos Buttler copped a blow on the hand keeping in the first innings and he can't keep while Jonny Bairstow's thumb is still an issue. Bairstow spoke to Fox Cricket this morning on whether his thumb is broken: "I don't know as yet. To be honest with you, it's not going to matter either way, especially at this moment in time, especially this morning, so we'll just crack on and take it as it comes. It's pretty exciting for Popey. He obviously kept in the Test match in New Zealand. He's definitely kept in a game. I wish him all the best and I'm sure he'll do a good job."

England have given an update on Bairstow, Buttler and Stokes via a statement. "Bairstow has been for a scan/x-ray after a blow to his right thumb during yesterday’s play. He will resume batting this morning. We are awaiting results of the scan and will evaluate at the end of the Test match. Buttler has been for an x-ray after sustaining a blow to his left index finger keeping wicket on day two. We will evaluate the extent of the injury at the end of the Test match. As a result of the injury, substitute fielder Ollie Pope will keep wicket in Australia’s second innings. Stokes has been for scan this morning to determine the extent of his sore left side. He sustained the injury bowling on day two. We will evaluate the extent of the injury and update at the end of the Test match."

England have added Sam Billings to their squad as cover, amid injury scares for Stokes, Bairstow and Buttler, while for Australia, Josh Hazlewood looks unlikely to play any part in Hobart. Meanwhile, three fans were evicted from the SCG yesterday after shouting abuse at Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes as they walked off at tea.