Ashes 2021-22: Usman Khawaja shuffle dances in front of Barmy Army as Australia smell victory in Adelaide

Australia batter Usman Khawaja, who celebrated his 35th birthday on December 18, was seen in a jovial mood during the fourth day’s play in Adelaide pink-ball Test against England, as he shook a leg and performed the shuffle dance near the fine-leg fence in front of the Barmy Army.

Khawaja had every reason to be delighted as Australia continued to pile on the misery for the visitors on day four, having nearly pushed the game into a situation where a loss for them is all but out of contention.

Australia chose not to enforce the follow-on despite bundling England out for 236 after declaring for 473/9 in the first innings, courtesy of Marnus Labuschagne’s 103 and nineties from both David Warner and Steve Smith before Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon inflicted a collapse to push England into submission.

It was a similar story for England, who collapsed for the umpteenth time in Tests this year, with once again only a couple of batters managing to leave a mark. That England have not conceded the game already is thanks to Dawid Malan and Joe Root’s half-centuries, who stitched a 138-run stand between them in the first innings. However, individual efforts like those in a series renowned for unmatched competition could have taken them only that far.

Meanwhile, Australia once again had Labuschagne to thank, as he followed up his 103 with 51 in the second innings after England made early inroads on the fourth day to leave the hosts 55/4. Labuschagne then found an able ally in Travis Head, the quick-fire centurion in Brisbane, who played an attacking knock this time around too, scoring 51 off just 54, including seven fours to take his team closer to taking a 2-0 lead.

Set an unlikely 468 to win, England lost four wickets by the end of day four with only 82 on board. Jhye Richardson and Starc delivered a spirited spell with the new ball; Richardson had Haseeb Hameed caught for a duck in just the second over of England’s chase before having Rory Burns caught at second slip.

In between the two dismissals, Michael Neser trapped Malan lbw, while Alex Carey grabbed Joe Root off Starc at the stroke of stumps to leave another Ashes Test loss staring England right in the eyes. Of course, Khawaja was dancing.

Usman Khawaja pulling out the shuffle for the Barmy Army! 👍👍 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/RD9b4Ws4ce

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 19, 2021