Khawaja misses out on century in shock late Test recall

Usman Khawaja has gone from his career appearing over to producing his best innings on home soil in two years, as Australia went to tea at 5-194 on day one in Adelaide.

Left out of Australia's team on Tuesday, Khawaja was granted a lifeline on Wednesday when Steve Smith was ruled out with vertigo.

On the eve of his 39th birthday, the left-hander then held Australia's innings together with a stylish 82 after coming at No.4.

But just as a fairytale century appeared in sight, the Test veteran was caught on the boundary trying to sweep Will Jacks a few overs before tea.

Khawaja will no doubt be disappointed not to have made a statement century that would have the potential to lock in his spot in the middle order for the rest of the series.

Even still, his innings was crucial on Wednesday, after Australia fell to 2-32 in the first hour, then lost Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the first over after lunch.

Jofra Archer has been the man to do most of the damage for England, claiming the double-strike after lunch and holding figures of 3-19.

Khawaja missed the Brisbane Test with a back injury before Australia opted to stick with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald as openers.

With only two scores above 50 in his past 27 Test innings before Wednesday, Khawaja's chances of featuring in Test cricket again had at that point appeared bleak.

But he looked his old laconic self on Wednesday, clipping the ball off his pads, pulling shorter deliveries to the boundary and regularly cutting the ball behind point.

Khawaja's innings marked his highest innings on home soil since December 2023.

With him out, Alex Carey (48no) and Josh Inglis (5no) were left to take Australia to tea.

Earlier, Archer had proven the man for England after he had Labuschagne (19) pull him straight to mid-wicket on the first ball after lunch.

Green followed two balls later, well caught by Brydon Carse again at mid-wicket when the quick dived to his right.

That catch was only bettered by the low one-hander Zak Crawley claimed to remove Head (10) in the first session, when Australia's dangerman cover-drove a Carse half-volley.

Head's dismissal came one over after Weatherald top-edged a pull shot off Archer and was caught behind for 18.

The hosts can wrap up the series with a win in Adelaide, with victory in four days enough to make for the fastest retention of the Ashes since 1921.