Usman Khawaja, a seasoned opening batsman, has been one of red-ball cricket’s most effective players recently. His astounding average of 64.84 allowed him to finish as the second-highest run-scorer in the second cycle of the World Test Championship, and he is off to a strong start in the 2023–25 cycle as well.
Despite having excellent credentials, the 36-year-old has not had an easy time in his career and has frequently had to prove his mettle. Before making his triumphant comeback in late 2021, his performance away from home was scrutinized, and he saw himself being completely cut from the squad.
Khawaja utilized his second chance to the fullest and hasn’t looked back since, fending off rivals who are vying to take Khawaja’s spot at the top of the Australian batting order. Additionally, he has been using his second appearance as a chance to finally put an end to his critics before he departs from the game.
Khawaja has been scoring runs against all opposition in all situations, denying the critics the chance to point out any shortcomings and causing them to retract their earlier statements. Here are three instances in Test cricket where Usman Khawaja disproved his detractors.
1. Double Ton Against England in 3 years
After a three-year absence, he scored 1 twin ton against England. Between August 2019 and late 2022, Khawaja missed about three years of action, with his final match at that time being the infamous Headingley Test, which Australia lost by three wickets.
At the top of the order, the Men in Yellow used some younger players like Matt Renshaw, Will Pucovski, and Marcus Harris, but Khawaja had a chance to make a comeback during the 2021–22 Ashes. Prior to his return, he was seen as an option that was too old and not a long-term prospect.
With centuries in each of his two innings during the Sydney Test, he silenced his detractors. Prior to the game being drawn, he helped Australia set a respectable target and get within one wicket of victory with scores of 137 and 101 not out.
2. Ton Against India on Spinning Track
After being informed that he cannot play spin, he scored a 2 400-ball marathon ton against India. Usman Khawaja’s ability to play spin was questioned prior to the Border-Gavaskar series despite a successful series in Pakistan in 2022.
After scoring just six runs in the opening Test in Nagpur, his tour of the subcontinent got off to a terrible start.
Usman Khawaja’s ability to bowl spin was questioned during the Border-Gavaskar series’ build-up despite a successful series in Pakistan in 2022. After scoring just six runs in the opening Test in Nagpur, his tour of the subcontinent got off to a terrible start.
His highlight of the tour was a marathon innings during the fourth Test, which put an end to his critics with a brilliant 125-ball 81-run knock in Delhi. In Ahmedabad’s opening inning, Khawaja completed 422 deliveries and scored 180 runs.
Even though it wasn’t a pitch filled with demons, it was an incredible display of endurance and a resounding denial of the doubters who claimed he wasn’t a reliable player of spin.
3. Maiden hundred in England after facing criticism for his subpar performance
Khawaja was criticized once more for his questionable performance in England.
His defiant century, his first three-figure score on English soil, helped Australia out of a jam during the ongoing Ashes series on Saturday.
His revelry painted a picture of how he dealt with the disparaging remarks, the jeers from the hostile Edgbaston crowd, and his prior track record in the nation. His ferocious emotional outburst, which included throwing his bat and thanking the crowd, silenced the critics.
Khawaja had to use sound technique and awareness to score the hundred despite the lifeless surface that was available. At Stumps on Day 2, his innings assisted Australia in turning around its 67-3 deficit to a respectable 311-5 total.
He is currently unbeaten and has 126 runs off 279 deliveries. He will be aiming to increase his already exceptional total to a mammoth total.
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