Australia vs Sri Lanka 2019: 5 things we learnt from the Test series

#3 Usman Khawaja is more comfortable in a supporting role

Usman Khawaja's hundred in the second Test was much needed for the left-hander

At the start of the season, with Steve Smith and David Warner out of the team, the batsman regarded as the best in the Australian line-up was Usman Khawaja and he was expected to lead the way in the batting department for them.

However, as things turned out, he was rather a big disappointment. There was some redemption though through his brilliant hundred in the second innings of the last Test of the season.

As always, Khawaja was incredibly elegant. He seems to represent a beautiful confluence of sub-continental and Australian styles of batting. The supple wrists (sub-continental) and free-flowing stroke-making (Australian) have always made him a highly watchable batsman.

But his performances this season were very disappointing. The century in the last innings of the season was crucial as it would secure his place in the team.

It could also be an indication of something else. Perhaps, it tells us that Khawaja is more comfortable when he is playing a supporting act and is not at ease being the leader of the batting line-up.

He performed brilliantly with Smith and Warner in the team and even put aside his struggles against spin while playing in their absence against Pakistan last year in UAE. The pressure of expectations may have got to him and queered his pitch.

However, with both Smith and Warner set to be back in the side soon, he may once again become the quality batsman we have known him to be.