Former Test star Usman Khawaja has snapped out of his recent form slump to post a crucial century on day three of Queensland’s Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.

Khawaja, 34, managed only 45 runs across his first three innings of the summer, but just when his chances of earning a Test recall appeared to be fading, the Queensland skipper came up with a true captain’s knock.

The Bulls had been on the back foot ever since their abysmal batting collapse on day one and needed a prolific second innings if they were any chance of holding the Redbacks at bay.

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Enter Khawaja.

His steady partnership with Marnus Labuschagne yielded 77 runs but Khawaja was undeterred when the star batter was sent packing. On a wicket much less batter-friendly than Karen Rolton Oval, where his side played its last Shield match, the skipper brought up his 31st first class hundred.

He had luck on his side — the Redbacks dropped him on 19 on day two and on day three, the umpire was unmoved by what looked to be a textbook catch from wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Redbacks coach Jason Gillespie refused to comment on the latter.

“My focus is on how we’ve bowled,” he said.

“We missed a couple of chances in the first innings, missed one in the second innings, but buy and large I’ve been really happy with how we’ve bowled.

“Fair play to Ussie and Jimmy at the end there. The way Queensland have applied themselves with the bat today has been fantastic.”

At stumps, Khawaja was unbeaten on 158 runs, which was more than the entire Queensland XI posted in the first innings. Jimmy Peirson’s 89 helped the Bulls to finish the day at 4-370, 242 runs ahead of South Australia.

Khawaja hasn’t played Test cricket since he was dropped midway through the last Ashes in August 2019 but his versatility could play into his hand if he can keep this form up — Khawaja has both opened the batting and slotted into the middle order at Test level.

If Marnus Labuschagne’s unique blend of celebration and appeal amused cricket fans in the clash with Tasmania, a moment during his stint at the crease on Sunday would’ve left them in stitches.

On strike on day three, Labuschagne was hit in the most sensitive of areas by a bouncer from former teammate Brendan Doggett.

Labuschagne dropped to his knees and remained on the ground for close to 10 minutes.

“From experience, it’s not a nice place to be hit, and there’s not much you can do,” said Tom Cooper in commentary.

Labuschagne was able to continue and went on to post the slowest 40+ score of his first-class career, facing 179 balls before he was dismissed LBW by Nathan McAndrew on 45.

Young gun foils Western Australia

Western Australia’s star-studded batting order has been thwarted by Tasmanian youngster Lawrence Neil-Smith, who has gone from frustrating Queenslanders one week to giving Western Australians nightmares the next.

Neil-Smith was Queensland’s villain last week – after Tasmania sent him in as nightwatchman on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash, he batted at a snail’s pace to ensure the match would be a draw.

He was well and truly the hero for his side on Sunday, though, almost single-handedly wrestling the momentum back from the Western Australians as they began to recover from a disastrous top-order collapse.

Western Australia’s big-name batters Cameron Bancroft, Shaun Marsh and Cameron Green managed only 34 runs between them.

After the two openers fell in quick succession, the stage was set for Green, who burst onto the Test scene last summer, to save the day.

Unlike many of those in the Test conversation, who are overseas for the T20 World Cup, Green has the chance to reacclimatise to red-ball cricket ahead of the Ashes. He was in ominous touch in his opening first class innings of the summer, smacking his way to a century, but not even he was immune to Western Australia’s bout of the yips.

All-rounder Beau Webster dismissed Green LBW with just seven runs to his name.

Test veteran Shaun Marsh also looked threatening this summer, that was until Neil-Smith stepped up to the crease to claim the veteran as his first wicket.

Just as Hilton Cartwright and Josh Philippe began turning the tide for the Western Australians, Neil-Smith sent both packing, as well as serial slogger D’Arcy Short.

Former Test star Peter Siddle waited until late to get his name on the score sheet but the wily old quick ended any hopes of a tail-order fightback by dismissing Joel Paris and Jhye Richardson.

Neil-Smith finished the innings 5-43 as the Western Australians were all out for 238. The Tasmanians must’ve realised he was a good luck charm – they sent him in as the nightwatchman in a move that surely would’ve left Usman Khawaja and the rest of the Queensland Bulls yelling at the TV.

With his fifth ball in his first Shield match since 2019, Jhye Richardson took the wicket of Tasmania’s Tim Ward.