Usman Khawaja’s time was up, according to former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, and the left-hander could not be brought back into the Australian Test squad, at least not at that time.
Khawaja was playing for Queensland at the time, and he recalled watching him play while he was coaching South Australia. He came to the conclusion that Khawaja was a bit slow and battling.
Khawaja has been in outstanding form ever since he joined the Test team again in January 2022. On Friday, June 17, at Edgbaston, on Day 2 of the first Ashes 2023 Test, he scored a magnificent hundred, returning unbeaten on 126 off 279 balls.
Australia recovered from 67/3 to end the day on 311/5, in response to England’s first-innings total of 393/8 declared thanks to Khawaja’s tenacious innings. Gillespie praised the 36-year-old for proving him wrong in a column for the Daily Mail.
The author wrote: “When I was coaching South Australia a few years ago, I saw Usman Khawaja play for Queensland in a Sheffield Shield match. I recalled saying, “I believe he has moved past it. There isn’t much, in my opinion. ’
He was struggling and I thought he was moving a little slowly. I believed his time was almost up. He’s definitely shown me wrong, and I’m happy to admit it. You love it when players demonstrate that they still have something to offer, he continued.
The former Australian pacer commended the left-handed batter for seizing the chance that presented itself in January 2022 after Travis Head was forced to withdraw from the fourth Ashes Test due to Covid.
Gillespie added detail: “It all started back in January 2022, when Travis Head caught Covid before the fourth Ashes Test, and Usman seized the chance to score a hundred in each innings. He didn’t expect that opportunity, and as a result, he’s playing every game with a completely open mind and as though it’s his last. ”
The 48-year-old remembered: while drawing comparisons between Khawaja and former Australian batter Justin Langer.
“It makes me think of the 2001 Ashes final Test, when Justin Langer took Michael Slater’s place. He had the mentality that he was in the last-chance saloon and was going to make the most of the situation. I’m going to enjoy the conflict and the challenge and just play and have fun. ’
“With that attitude and mindset, Justin went on to have one of the best careers. And I see many parallels between the predicament Justin was in and Usman’s present circumstance, he continued.”
Khawaja’s comeback Test in Sydney last year saw him score 137 and 101*, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Usman’s fortitude is something I admire, says Gillespie of Khawaja’s performance at Edgbaston.
Gillespie commented on Khawaja’s century in the ongoing Edgbaston Test, saying that the “outstanding” knock was yet another example of his tenacity. He penned the following.
“What I admire most about Usman is his tenacity, which he once again displayed at Edgbaston on Saturday. Against some very good bowling, it was a fantastic knock. He played his own game despite having a strike rate significantly lower than England’s batsmen.“
His sole responsibility is to bat. He plays a very straightforward game. He jumped on anything short with great pull shots after leaving really well. I also admired his motive in attacking Moeen Ali. Gillespie continued, “He really took him on down the ground.”
Australia will be behind England on Day 3 of the Edgbaston Test by 82 runs after the first innings.
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