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Is Usman Khawaja already the greatest ever Asian batsman to represent a non-Asian country?

Joseph Gomes said:
Homogeneous community or not, people lose most of their culture abroad by second generation.
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I'd say second generation is too soon but yeah by the 4th or 5th generation most culture is lost and these west indians of indian origin have been there for like 150 years so calling them asian is hillarious, that's like calling the Aussie team "English".

Moreover most of these west indians are mixed anyways so making them even less desi.
 
I would think Amla would fit the bill but he's not second generation I think.
 
I would say Imran Tahir. This guy had to leave his home country for an alien one to start his international career. The likes of Amla and Khawaja had the advantage of being born in countries they went on to represent.
 
Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann believes middle-order batsman Usman Khawaja should take some time off from international cricket and play in the Sheffield Shield to regain his form prior to the Ashes 2019.

The southpaw suffered another failure in the second Test against Sri Lanka, getting dismissed for a third-ball duck in Canberra. Khawaja has registered only one fifty-plus score in the 11 innings since his match-saving effort against Pakistan in Dubai.

"The way he got out, was very unlike Usman Khawaja, it was a lazy shot. He's not like that, he's a better player than that," Lehmann told Macquarie Sports Radio. "He's just looking a bit flat when he plays. He's not as sharp early on as he was say in Perth, when he got his highest score of the summer. He got the 70, looked sharp and ready to score. He's a better player than he has shown, we know."

Lehmann suggested that Khawaja needs to let go of a few ODI chances to better his chances of cementing a position in the Test side.

"If I'm fair dinkum about batting him three in the Ashes, I don't think you can take him to the one-day series against India and Pakistan. I think he's got to play the four Shield games at the back end with the Dukes ball and get some form, and it's one for the selectors to mull over."

Lehmann further added that Khawaja's family issues - his brother getting arrested in December - could also be playing a part for his poor showing.

"The family issues certainly would've affected him, there's no doubt about that. When you've got issues going on with your loved ones, cricket takes second string. We're only playing a game," he said.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...d-of-india-pakistan-odis-lehmann-2023035.html
 
:facepalm:

people who think that West Indies players are asian
 
Not enjoying his current performances. Honestly he lacks intensity in his game and has a laziness about him. His fitness has been questioned in the past, also has issues against spin. I think if he carries on like this for the rest of the series, Australia should look at alternatives for their home summer.
 
One to watch is 19 year-old Rachin Ravindra who played for NZ A last year. He's the most exciting NZ batting talent since Kane.
 
Usman Khawaja will lead Australia in place of Test skipper Tim Paine for the three-day tour game versus English county side Derbyshire from Thursday, but remains non-committal on whether his promotion to open the innings is a portent of things to come in the fourth Ashes Test next month.

The Australia selectors have decided to rest Paine, David Warner, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon for the tour match against Derbyshire, with head coach Justin Langer hinting at batting changes for the Old Trafford Test starting September 4.

Steve Smith is set to feature in the game after missing the Leeds Test after he was concussed by Jofra Archer at Lord's, and should he be passed fit for Old Trafford it would mean dropping one batsman.

Khawaja, who will begin his Australian captaincy by opening against Derbyshire, could not say for certain what Australia's top order will look like.

"I'm not really sure at the moment, because Smithy is in there too, trying to get a game," he told reporters in Derby on Wednesday. "Mitch Marsh obviously hasn't played a lot of cricket, so he's batting up the top of the order too.


"Marnus (Labuschagne) might get a few overs as well, bowling his spinners which I'm always reluctant to do just to annoy him. But at the moment, it's just about some guys going out there, playing some cricket, worrying about this game, getting ready for the next game and whatever's out of our control, just leaving it at that."

(READ: James Anderson set for comeback, Jason Roy to bat lower down)

The rookie Marcus Harris replaced Cameron Bancroft for the third Test, and made 8 and 19 as opener. The other candidate to be dropped, should Harris be retained, is Matthew Wade who after his second-innings hundred at Edgbaston has made 6, 1, 0 and 33.

Marnus Labuschagne who came into the series at Lord's as international cricket's first concussion substitute has batted thrice in the series and crossed 50 each time. The joint vice-captain Travis Head has one fifty from six innings, but should keep his place for Old Trafford.

Khawaja himself has not hit opt form, as scores of 13, 40, 36, 2, 8 and 23 underscore.

"I actually feel really good batting, I just haven't made any big runs lately which is obviously frustrating for me," he said. "I'm actually getting lots of starts, it's not like I'm in no-man's territory.

"The most important thing is to capitalise on those starts - that's what the best players do. If you don't capitalise on those starts there's always times when you're going to get out early."

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...85505/amp/?p=885505&__twitter_impression=true
 
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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ggVWblPP4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Always grateful for the journey. We achieved what no Aussie team has done in 18 years! Thanks to my family, friends and the fans for all your support &#55357;&#56911;&#55356;&#57342;. #proud #alhamdulillah #australia &#55356;&#56806;&#55356;&#56826; &#55356;&#57295; &#55356;&#57338;</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usman_khawajy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Usman Khawaja</a> (@usman_khawajy) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2019-09-17T09:49:46+00:00">Sep 17, 2019 at 2:49am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
 
An average player outside his 2016 purple patch. His Australian career is coming to a close.
 
Abdullah719 said:
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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ggVWblPP4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Always grateful for the journey. We achieved what no Aussie team has done in 18 years! Thanks to my family, friends and the fans for all your support ����. #proud #alhamdulillah #australia ���� �� ��</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usman_khawajy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Usman Khawaja</a> (@usman_khawajy) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2019-09-17T09:49:46+00:00">Sep 17, 2019 at 2:49am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
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#alhamdulillah - interesting
 
Usman Khawaja has shrugged off a 'rough trot' in the Marsh Sheffield Shield as he focuses on one final push for Test selection in Monday's Australia A clash with Pakistan.

Dropped midway through Australia's Ashes campaign, Khawaja started the domestic season in red-hot form with back-to-back Marsh One-Day Cup centuries for Queensland but has since had a lean run.

The classy left-hander had his best return of the Shield season so far in the Bulls draw with Western Australia at the Gabba, striking 32 off 106 balls in the host's first dig of 411.

It took his Shield tally to an underwhelming 59 runs at 11.80.

Yet Khawaja believes the signs are good before he fronts for Australia A's three-day day-night clash with Pakistan in Perth from November 11-13.

"I felt really good until I got out. It was frustrating," Khawaja said of his knock against WA.

"I had a rough trot the first couple of games – three out of the four innings if I'd had DRS I'd still be out there, which is frustrating.

"But that's Shield cricket, you've just got to cop it on the chin and move forward.

"The times I nicked off I still felt good. In the whole grand scheme of things, I'm still feeling good, just haven't had a big score yet.

"For me it is about trying to get better and hopefully get wins for Queensland plus I have Aussie A coming up – that's my focus so hopefully I get that big score soon."

The Australia A clash looms as a high-stakes bat-off between contenders with Australia expected to name their squad for the first Domain Test against Pakistan at the end of next week after the tour match and latest Shield round.

Khawaja will be locked in a battle with Queensland teammate Joe Burns and Victorian Marcus Harris for an opening berth, while Will Pucovski, Travis Head and Nic Maddinson will vie for a spot in the middle order.

The prolific Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are locked in for the first Test, while opener David Warner, despite a horror run in the winter Ashes tour, also seems set for the Gabba opener on November 21.

Incumbent No.6 batsman Matthew Wade is not part of the Australia A set-up and after two Ashes centuries and a couple of Shield fifties, can be confident of holding his spot.

Former Test opener Burns staked his claim with a lively 76 featuring 11 fours against WA, his second fifty of the season.

Former Test batsman Shaun Marsh may also be a dark horse for a return to the Test team and the 36-year-old struck an impressive 77 in WA's first dig of 332 against Queensland to follow up his double-century against Victoria at the WACA Ground.

It helped take his overall Shield season tally to 393 runs at 78.60.

Not that 38-Test veteran is sweating on yet another call-up by national selectors.

"I am enjoying my cricket at the moment. I love playing for WA," Marsh said.

"But to be honest I have not thought about it (Test recall). There are a lot of young players out there playing well."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/usm...h-trot-sheffield-shield-queensland/2019-11-07
 
Of course not.

Lord Cowdrey was. He was born as Colin Cowdrey, and was one of the many Indians to play Test cricket for England. He later became Chairman of the ICC.
 
Bancroft, Burns earn Test recalls, pain for Harris, Khawaja


National selector Trevor Hohns has defended the shock inclusion of Cameron Bancroft in the squad for the first Test.

Queensland pair Joe Burns and Michael Neser were also named in a 14-man squad for the series against Pakistan but there was no room for incumbent opener Marcus Harris or veteran Usman Khawaja.

Bancroft had not been included in the initial Australia A squad but vaulted into Test calculations with a dogged 49 after replacing Nic Maddinson, who withdrew due to a mental health issue.

Hohns said he has been named as a spare batsman who can cover an position at the top or in the middle order, where he has batted for Western Australia in the limited-overs formats.

"He's an ideal person to have in our squad. He's got the ingredients to be a very good Test match player," Hohns said.

"He's a hard worker. He was left out, of course, in England after a couple of Test matches. He's had the bit between the teeth, he's worked very, very hard on his game and the improvement in his game is quite noticeable."

Burns returns to the baggy green for the first time since being dropped for the Ashes after making 180 against Sri Lanka in Canberra. The opener has made four centuries from 16 Tests with an average of 40.

"Joe’s record speaks for itself, he has Test hundreds on the board and has combined very well with David [Warner] in the past," Hohns said.

"We also like the feel of a right-hand, left-hand combination at the top of the order."

Despite an average of 53 in the Shield this season, Harris was overlooked after twin failures in the

Australia A game. The opener also had a lean run in the Ashes after being brought into the side for the third Test.

Head has regained his berth in the middle order after being dumped for the fifth Test in England, but it is unclear if he would have been picked if Will Pucovski had been available.

Khawaja's Test future is clouded after failing to break back into the squad. The one-time mainstay of the top order lost his place in the Ashes and has endured a wretched start to the summer with 102 runs at 17 and a highest score of 37 not out.

"As always, there were players who were unlucky to miss the squad. Those players remain firmly in the national selection frame and will continue to be monitored closely," Hohns said.

The two Tests against Pakistan are at the Gabba and under lights in Adelaide.

SQUAD: David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Cameron Bancroft.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-pain-for-harris-khawaja-20191114-p53anr.html
 
Usman Khawaja rejects Shane Warne suggestions

Usman Khawaja has rejected Shane Warne's fears he's lost the desire to play Test cricket, saying you "either get it or you don't" when it comes to his on-field demeanour.

Khawaja, dropped midway through the Ashes, was the big omission from the squad to play Pakistan at home this summer.

Warne declared last week that he "just wants to shake him and get him to show a bit more" and that it was time for him to show how much he wanted to play for Australia.

Preparing to captain Queensland in Tuesday's one-day domestic final, Khawaja wasn't in the mood to entertain Warne's insinuations.

"I don't think there's any need to answer that question," he said.

"I'm a pretty cool bloke. You either get it or you don't, that's the way it is.

"No, never (have I stopped wanting to play for Australia), if I had I would've retired.

"I feel like I belong at international level, but I've got to score runs."

Khawaja averages 40.66 in 44 Tests but that lifts to 52.97 at home and coach Justin Langer insists he'll remain in the mix if he puts runs on the board.

The coach even indicated last week that Khawaja, almost 33, was better off playing for Queensland than remaining with the squad at the Gabba as the spare batsman.

Bulls skipper Khawaja said had learnt to ignore the outside noise.

"I'm a batsman, run-scorer first and foremost so that's my currency," he said.

"You look at my Shield record, one day domestic record, BBL record.

"I score runs, that's all that matters."

The usually fluent strokemaker dug in for an unbeaten 86 against Tasmania to ensure the Bulls secured home advantage for the final in his one and only innings since missing Test selection.

Queensland coach Wade Seccombe rated it a "special knock" in tough conditions and labelled criticism of Khawaja by Warne as "unfair".

And footage of a shattered Khawaja in the dressing rooms following Australia's gutting Headingley Ashes loss - released on Monday ahead of a documentary series to come next year - also revealed plenty.

"Yeah it was very tough moment, I think it was a tough moment for the whole of Australia, let alone the guys playing," Khawaja said.

"That stuff's the down of sport, the stuff you don't see, I keep my emotions in check when I'm on the field, but it's probably the stuff off the field that you don't see."

https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/cool-khawaja-will-let-runs-do-talking-c-573551
 
Former captain Michael Clarke has been left staggered by Usman Khawaja’s snubbing from Cricket Australia’s 20-man central contract list.

Khawaja was the most high profile of the six incumbents cut from the annual contract list, with the left-hander just missing out according to chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.

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Khawaja has not played for Australia since being dropped midway through the Ashes, but went into last year’s contract period as one of the country’s most important players in both Test and one-day cricket.

Clarke, who was captain when Khawaja made his debut, finds it hard to believe the 33-year-old is no longer good enough for a contract.

“I find it very hard to believe that someone with the talent and the runs behind him over 10 years isn’t in Australia’s top 20 players,” Clarke said of Khawaja on Big Sports Breakfast.

Khawaja featured prominently in the recent documentary series The Test, clashing with Langer twice in forthright arguments.

Langer has always maintained he has nothing but respect for the way the veteran challenges him, and Clarke does not believe those arguments would have counted against him at the selection table.

“I would like to think it’s nothing personal,” Clarke said. “I don’t think JL is like that”

Khawaja has scored eight Test tons and averages 40.66 in the game’s longest format, while also excelling in one-day international cricket (1554 runs at 42.00) when given a chance. Up until August last year he was a lock in both sides.

Hohns said Khawaja was the hardest name to omit from the list but said his lean run in the Sheffield Shield last season and the slim hopes he had of breaking back into Australia’s ODI side forced their hand.

“Uzzy was a difficult one for us, probably the hardest one,” Hohns said on Thursday, adding that this was not necessarily the end of Khawaja’s international career.

“We know Usman’s a fabulous player and I don’t have any doubt he’ll accept the challenge ... to get back into that Australian side.

“He has been a pretty good player for Australia but unfortunately the last 12 months haven’t been his best.

“So a lot will depend on how Usman comes back, where he bats for his state and then it’s a matter of really demanding to be chosen again.”

If he is to return to the Test fold, it would appear to be as an opener given Marnus Labuschagne has locked down the No.3 position while Joe Burns has a looser grip on his spot at the top.

“There’s no doubt Usman could perform that role,” Hohns said of Khawaja’s chances as an opener.

“We’re quite happy with Joe. His form wasn’t great but it was OK, he and David Warner seemed to have formed quite a good opening combination.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...g/news-story/1beef334d49cb71b740f03c616e07862
 
Colin Cowdrey was born in OOty (India).
Bob Woolmer was born in Kanpur (india)
 
Ranjitsingji
Kanhai
Chanderpaul
Amla
Ramprakash
Sarwan
Kalicharan



Khawaja is better than Rabindu Shah however
 
Khawaja shocked by CA cash-flow crisis

Usman Khawaja has expressed disappointment at Cricket Australia's financial "mismanagement", admitting he was shocked to learn of its cash-flow woes.

Khawaja is determined to return to Australia's Test XI, suggesting he has the flexibility to bat anywhere in the top six and is better placed to bounce back from this week's contract snub compared to the corresponding setback in 2014.

The veteran's omission provided the biggest talking point from CA's contract list for 2020-21, surprising former captains Michael Clarke and Allan Border, but the foreshadowing was there given he hadn't played for Australia since being dropped in last year's Ashes.

The same can't be said of CA's financial crisis, which prompted chief executive Kevin Roberts to stand down the vast majority of staff for the rest of the financial year.

CA remain locked in talks with state associations and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) regarding cuts, with the COVID-19 pandemic casting doubt on this summer and a Test series against India believed to be worth $300 million in broadcast revenue.

"I was very shocked. Because I knew our projections for revenue were still very high and I think they still are, depending on what happens with the Indian series," Khawaja told Fox Sports.

"It's a bit confusing. I don't have all the financial information in front of me, but it seems like it's more of a cash-flow problem at the moment.

"There's obviously a little bit of mismanagement there somewhere, with the portfolio and putting a lot of money into the share market.

"To me that's Business 101. To make sure you have enough cash reserves if crap hits the fan.

"So I'm a little bit disappointed on that front ... but what's been done is done now, so it's just our responsibility as CA and ACA to work through this."

ACA emailed players on Thursday, explaining it is seeking further financial information.

Khawaja reiterated the view of several teammates, noting players were ready to take a haircut as per the revenue-share model.

"I feel more for the staff that have been stood down on 20 per cent. A lot of them are good mates of mine," the candid 33-year-old said.

Khawaja insisted he still has plenty to offer at the highest level, arguing "age is just a number and if you're performing, you're performing; it's not like I'm 37 or 38 and coming into right at the end of my career".

Khawaja added he has squashed concerns about his fitness, being "lazy" and an alleged weakness against spin bowling.

"Without sounding arrogant, I still feel like I'm one of the top six batsmen in the country," Khawaja said.

"My playing against spin has been right up there as some of the best in the county. Bar maybe Steve Smith, who is an absolute genius.

"But the most important thing is to score runs."

https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/khawaja-shocked-by-ca-cash-flow-crisis-c-1013038
 
I'm a bit confused how Mitch Marsh gets a contract and not Khawaja. Any Aussie fan would rate Khawaja way ahead of Marsh.
 
Ricky Ponting says axed Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja faces a tough uphill battle to return to the national side.
Ponting declared “he’s going to find it difficult” to regain his place in the Test XI, and lamented that we “never saw the absolute best” of the talented batsman on the international stage.

Khawaja was the highest-profile player to lose his Cricket Australia national contract at the end of last month, leading the player to defiantly claim he remains “one of the top six batsmen in the country.”

Now Australia’s all-time leading international runscorer Ponting has delivered his verdict on Khawaja’s representative future.

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“One thing I know, you never write great players off,” Ponting told ABC Grandstand.

“He’s got every opportunity once domestic cricket does start this summer, and all he can do is represent Queensland, get a truck load of runs under his belt and wait for another opportunity to come along.

“If it does I’m sure he wouldn’t let anyone down if he gets a chance to play again.”

But Punter declared it would be tough for the 33-year-old to return and bemoaned his inconsistency for Test side.

“I honestly think now he’s going to find it difficult (to get back into the Australian team) and I feel for him,” Ponting said.

A whole series at one ground: India on board with bold solution to save Test summer

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“I love Usman Khawaja, I got really close to him over the last 10 years since he made his debut and I talk to him quite regularly.

“I’ve always felt he’s a very good player and we probably never saw the absolute best of him at international cricket.

“We saw glimpses of it, and dribs and drabs, but not the consistently good player I thought he could have been for Australia.”

Khawaja has been in and out of the Test side throughout his career, both due to injury and selection policy. He was punted from the Test XI part-way through last year’s Ashes series before missing out on home series against Pakistan and New Zealand this summer.

The left-hander did pile on the runs in the One-Day domestic competition over the summer, but failed to find form in the Sheffield Shield, posting just 202 runs at an average of 18.36 across seven games.

“If I’m looking at Test cricket, Usman’s form in Sheffield Shield cricket didn’t demand he was chosen for Australia,” National Selector Trevor Hohns said when announcing the decision to not renew Khawaja’s contract.

“I think that’s fair.

“We know Usman is a fabulous player, I don’t have any doubts he’ll accept the challenge to get back into the Australian side.

“He’s been pretty good player for Australia, unfortunately the last 12 months hasn’t been his best.”

But Khawaja defiantly declared he wasn’t finished.

“Without sounding arrogant, I still feel like I’m one of the top six batsmen in the country,” Khawaja said.

“Age is just a number and if you’re performing, you’re performing; it’s not like I’m 37 or 38 and coming into right at the end of my career,” he told Fox Sports.

“My playing against spin has been right up there as some of the best in the county. Bar maybe Steve Smith, who is an absolute genius.

“But the most important thing is to score runs.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...s/news-story/d1bfed0bc575f26df030bab2a005711c
 
freelance_cricketer said:
He is good but I'm world cups he's not as good as Ben Stokes or Babar Azam
Click to expand...

But no one even mentioned the format. Taking all thinks into consideration, Amla is a clear frontrunner. Besides, Ben Stokes and Azam play at different spots in the batting line-up. Plus, they would not make the list of Asian cricketers to play in Non-Asian countries either.
 
Firebat said:
I'm a bit confused how Mitch Marsh gets a contract and not Khawaja. Any Aussie fan would rate Khawaja way ahead of Marsh.
Click to expand...

Mitch Marsh is still considered the best all-rounder option in the country.

He and Khawaja are not competing for the same spot.
 
Usman Khawaja is set to play in Pakistan, the country of his birth, for the first time after he was picked up in the Pakistan Super League's 'replacement draft' overnight.

Khawaja was selected by the Islamabad United franchise, the club that represents his city of birth, for the rescheduled tournament that has been scheduled for June.

He will be joined by fellow Australians James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson and Joe Burns, who were all selected by the Lahore Qalandars.

The PSL was halted in March amid several breaches of the tournament's biosecurity arrangements, with numerous players contracting COVID-19. The tournament was suspended after 14 matches had been played, and the remaining 20 games will be played in the National Stadium in Karachi in June.

The news four Australians have signed up to head to the subcontinent in June comes as some Australians have opted to leave the Indian Premier League amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic in that country.

For Khawaja, who was born in Islamabad before his family emigrated to Australia at age five, the chance to play in a rescheduled T20 league was too good to pass up given the PSL usually conflicts with the Australian domestic summer.

"As long as I'm playing domestic cricket in Australia I won't get the opportunity to play in the PSL," Khawaja told cricket.com.au earlier this month.

"This might be a little blessing in disguise to play over there. I'd love to go over there and play.

"I've played in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh but I've never played in Pakistan where I was born and it's something I would love to do, to go home to where it all began for myself, my family."

"I love cricket returning to that region, too, because I think they're doing some really, really good stuff over there, doing some really hard work to get people to come over there and play.

Khawaja, who played six games with the Rising Pune Supergiants in the 2016 IPL before spending the entire season on the sidelines in 2017, gave a strong endorsement to the Pakistan T20 competition.

"Personally, if the PSL had as much money as the IPL there's no doubt all the international players would be going there," Khawaja said on the Unplayable Podcast.

"At the end of the day, people don't want to talk about it but it's all about cash. Cash is king. It's the reason, when at times there have been some red flags travelling to the subcontinent people have always pushed the barriers, the boundaries a little bit because everyone has a price.

"That's just the nature of the beast but the way the Pakistanis, what they're doing with security – I think England is going over there and I'd love to see an Australian team tour to Pakistan in the not too distant future.

"Hopefully in the next couple of years would be ideal but I guess it needs a bit of buy in from the players too."

The International Cricket Council's future tours programme (FTP) has Australia scheduled for an away series against Pakistan in February and March of 2022, comprising of two Tests, three ODIs and three T20s.

CA's former chief executive Kevin Roberts and ex-head of security Sean Carroll visited Pakistan in September 2019 to begin groundwork for an Australian team's first visit since Mark Taylor's side in 1998.

Ferguson's selection by Lahore marks his return to top-flight cricket after the Sydney Thunder skipper was sensationally dumped by club after BBL|10. Ferguson has previously played nine games for the Pune Warriors at the IPL in 2011 and 2012.

The draft also marks the first time Brisbane Heat batter Burns has been bought at a T20 franchise auction, having previously only played T20 cricket abroad in England.

Faulkner, the 2015 World Cup-winning allrounder, is an experienced T20 player having previously won an IPL title with the Rajasthan Royals, but missed the closing stages of the Australian summer with Tasmania to recover from hamstring injury.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/usm...-burns-ferguson-unplayable-podcast/2021-04-28
 
I would say Chanderpaul, Kalicharran and Ramnaresh Sarwan were all better then Usman. Have never made up my mind if these West Indian batsmen qualify as being Asian's or not:facepalm.
 
Islamabad United's Usman Khawaja is making his PSL debut today:

amir2.jpg
 
Sydney Thunder name left-handed batsman Usman Khawaja as their skipper for the upcoming edition of the tournament.

He grew up in the heart of the Thunder Nation and now Usman Khawaja has been named as the tenth ever captain of Sydney Thunder ahead of their KFC BBL|11 campaign.

The three-format Australian international and captain of Queensland’s reigning Sheffield Shield winning team has been with Thunder from the outset of the Big Bash League and is the club’s highest ever run scorer and longest serving player.

Khawaja’s passion for the Thunder and the Western Sydney region is palpable.

“It’s a great privilege to be captain of any team, but for me especially being captain of Sydney Thunder probably means a little more,” Khawaja said.

“I grew up in Western Sydney, about ten minutes from where the Thunder play at Sydney Showground Stadium, and even though I now live in Queensland I have never forgotten where I come from.

“The majority of my close friends are from Western Sydney and I have that strong emotional connection with club and the region. It’s very close to my heart.”

The Pakistan-born lefthander paid tribute to departing Thunder captain Callum Ferguson and said he wouldn’t be doing things a whole lot differently to his predecessor in BBL|11.

“Cal was awesome as a bloke and teammate – he will be missed amongst the group here for sure,” Khawaja said.

“Me being captain, it’s not about reinventing the wheel. Everyone has their own way of captaining a team but having captained various sides for Queensland and Australia A for a few years I think it’s important to be who you are.

“I never change who I am just because I am captain. I am usually a bit of a jokester around the team and that doesn’t change as a captain. I know when to deliver a message that is serious and when we can be a little more relaxed. For me it’s business as usual.”

And if the 34-year-old has it his way, ‘BAU’ this summer may just include something just a little less usual.

“It’s been five years since we won the BBL and that’s what it’s about, winning titles,” he said.

“If I can help us get there, that’s the biggest goal for a captain, supporting every player to get the best out of themselves so that a team is in a position to win. We are building towards that.”

Cricket NSW’s Head of Male Cricket, Michael Klinger, himself a former BBL stalwart for the Perth Scorchers and coach of the Melbourne Renegades, said no one was ‘more Thunder’ than Khawaja.

“Usman is a foundation player for the Thunder and grew up in the Western Suburbs of Sydney,” Klinger said.

“He is tactically astute and recently captained a successful Queensland Bulls team to win the Sheffield Shield against NSW.

“He has the highest respect from his fellow teammates and coaches and I know Trevor Bayliss is excited about Usman captaining instinctively on the field and using all of his experience to lead the Thunder to a successful season.”


Sydney Thunder BBL Squad

Head Coach: Trevor Bayliss

Assistant Coach: Shawn Bradstreet, Chandika Hathurusinghe

Contracted for BBL|11: Usman Khawaja (C), Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Ollie Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain

https://www.sydneythunder.com.au/news/thunder-name-hometown-skipper-usman-khawaja/2021-09-02
 
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PakLFC said:
I would say Chanderpaul, Kalicharran and Ramnaresh Sarwan were all better then Usman. Have never made up my mind if these West Indian batsmen qualify as being Asian's or not:facepalm.
Click to expand...

WI players are not Asian, vast majority of them don't know anything about Asia unlike Desi expats and immigrants. They are very far removed from their ancestral home and have heavily intermixed with black and indigenous population.
 
Joseph Gomes said:
WI players are not Asian, vast majority of them don't know anything about Asia unlike Desi expats and immigrants. They are very far removed from their ancestral home and have heavily intermixed with black and indigenous population.
Click to expand...

But the players I mentioned still have Indian roots.
 
Khawaja set to make his Test comeback for Australia in the 4th Ashes Test in Sydney!

This will be his first Test since the infamous Headingley defeat in August 2019.
 
Were the likes of Shiv Chanderpaul and Ram Sarwan not of Asian background too?. I would say Rohan Kanhai was the best player of Asian background to represent a non Asian side. Yes Rohan to me was of Asian/Indian background.
 
Ajaz Patel is probably the greatest bowler.
 
56* for Khawaja so far - solid as a rock :D [Jinx alert!]
 
Varun said:
Ajaz Patel is probably the greatest bowler.
Click to expand...

Never heard of that guy, Imran Tahir is def the GOAT diaspora Asian bowler, the 2nd spot is a toss up between Monty Panesar, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Sajid Mahmood.
 
I often chat with a friend on cricket, just showed him 6 messages from the last two years or so where I'm stressing on why Aussies should play Khawaja, esp when their openers were doing Zilch.

So so happy for Usman Khawaja, this is a slap in the face of Justin Langer actually.
 
Problem for Langer and khawaja was and is his performances outside of Australia were very ordinary, so Langer had to ballance the argument.
 
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Not always been 100% convinced by Usman as a batter but he certainly proved me wrong today with a top quality innings.
 
“He is from our country as well,” Shadab Khan, Pakistan’s leg-spinning all-rounder now representing the Sydney Sixers, told CODE. “It’s a proud moment for us as well when he performs, so we’re also happy.”
 
Giannis said:
He should've been made captain ahead of Cummins and Smith
Click to expand...

Yeah absolutely..

A player who has not played a game in like 2 years should randomly be picked out of the blue and be made captain.

Mind you in 2019 when he last played he avgd in the whopping 20s...

Pakistani homerism seems as bad as the Indian ones or maybe worse :))
 
Ussie quite clearly had Saeed Ajmals words of motivation ringing in his here as he made that century.
 
The Canberra Times:
<B>Khawaja expects to miss Hobart despite ton</b>

Usman Khawaja can dream of playing Test cricket in his birthplace of Pakistan after conceding a comeback Ashes century won't be enough for him to keep his spot for Hobart.

After two-and-a-half years in the Test wilderness, Khawaja completed a fairytale return on Thursday with a classy 137 at the SCG and his ninth Test century.

Filling in for the COVID-hit Travis Head, Khawaja played with style and elegance and has already scored more runs than all but two Englishman this summer.

His knock came in his first Test since being dropped in the 2019 Ashes, admitting since then he was at peace with his career if he didn't get another opportunity.

Khawaja's knock in Sydney should ensure more chances will come.

But Khawaja doesn't expect that will be at home summer, with Head available for Hobart after his own comeback ton at the Gabba last month.

"I knew it was one game for the series," Khawaja said.

"Heady's going to be back next game, he's going to be fit. I'm replacing him.

"The same thing happened to me once (in 2015), I scored a couple of hundreds, Shaun Marsh came in and scored 100 and he got dropped for me the next game.

"I understand the process. I'm not against that process either."

Khawaja's 260-ball knock was a reminder he can look immediately at home in Test cricket.

The 35-year-old made a mark with his first scoring shot, pulling Mark Wood for four in scenes reminiscent of his glorious debut innings at the SCG against England 11 years ago.

He drove superbly, looking at home against the spin of Jack Leach, once hitting the spinner to the cover boundary twice in one over.

And he burst into exaltation when he worked the spinner into the legside just before tea, bringing up his hundred off his 201st ball.

Khawaja's best chance to stay in the Australian could come at the top of the order, opening alongside childhood mate David Warner.

Selectors have made clear they want to give Marcus Harris a long run, but Khawaja's knock will only add further question marks around that call.

Khawaja averages 95.6 as an opener while Harris' career mark is at 25.21 after 25 innings.

He also has recent form in Asia, producing arguably his best Test knock in Dubai on Australia's last visit there.

And with Australia's first tour of Pakistan due for March, Khawaja now looms as a serious option for Australia in a scenario that could top his dream SCG return.

"It would be pretty cool," Khawaja said.

"Somewhere I was born. I have been back there a few times, made a lot of friends in the PSL.

"I've played in India, played in Bangladesh, played in Sri Lanka.

"It's amazing I haven't played in my own country of birth. If the opportunity comes it would be unbelievable."

— — —
 
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PakLFC said:
I would say Imran Tahir. This guy had to leave his home country for an alien one to start his international career. The likes of Amla and Khawaja had the advantage of being born in countries they went on to represent.
Click to expand...

Khawaja wasn't born in Australia. He was born in Islamabad but I think he was 10 when he moved to Australia with his family
 
PakLFC said:
Were the likes of Shiv Chanderpaul and Ram Sarwan not of Asian background too?. I would say Rohan Kanhai was the best player of Asian background to represent a non Asian side. Yes Rohan to me was of Asian/Indian background.
Click to expand...

They are as Asian as all white Australians are British.
 
Thread is asking if Usman is the best Asian player to represent a non Asian side? With the likes of Rohan Kahnai, Ram Sarwan, Shiv Chanderpaul and even Alvin Kalicharan I would say not. To say the Aussies are British is like saying Usman is an Indian!
 
Khawaja’s gorgeous vigil may just get pipped to the post in this match for the best hand played. Under such severe scoreboard pressure one could argue that Bairstow’s knock was even better. Two great Test innings.
 
Sydney: Former Test opener Simon Katich has said that Cricket Australia (CA) cannot ignore the credentials of Usman Khawaja for the fifth and final Ashes Test in Hobart after the 35-year-old batter scored a patient 137 in the first innings of the fourth Test here.

Khawaja’s effort, combined with Steve Smith’s half-century put the hosts in a strong position as they aim to make a clean sweep of the series. Khawaja was included in the Test side after more than two years of playing Shield cricket when Travis Head tested positive for COVID-19 following the Boxing Day Test. Also Read - Scott Boland Likely to Continue in 5th Test as Josh Hazlewood All But Ruled Out

Head too was in sublime form, smashing a century in the opening Test at The Gabba, before he was omitted from the side after the third Test in Melbourne. Also Read - Usman Khawaja: No Shortcuts to Playing England Quicks, I Had to Graft And Unsettle Them

Khawaja scored his ninth Test ton and second against England before being dismissed for 137 on Thursday. He last played a Test in 2019.

Katich feels Khawaja should be considered for the Hobart Test as well as the upcoming tour of Pakistan in March-April.

“He’s definitely in the four best batsmen of Australia,” Katich said to 1170 SEN Breakfast. “His Test average suggests that. He averages over 40. Given the way he got the hundred yesterday (Thursday), he has to stay in the team.”

Before the Ashes, Khawaja and Head were contenders for the No. 5 spot with Marcus Harris being given the job of opening alongside David Warner. Head got the nod and he went on to score a blistering 152 at The Gabba.

Katich believes Khawaja, who averages 97 as an opener, should face the new ball along with Warner and Harris should be dropped for the Hobart game. It would ensure Head returns to his No. 5 spot without tampering too much with the playing XI.

“At the end of the day, (Khawaja) scored a test hundred,” Katich added. “Marcus Harris… he’s into his 13th Test match, still hasn’t got a hundred and averages mid 20s whereas Khawaja averages over 40. Head comes back in so that means Harris misses out.

“It’s unfortunate (but) if you don’t make Test hundreds, there’s always someone else out there to grab your spot.”

Katich also questioned why Khawaja was dropped during the 2019 Ashes.

“He was hard done by being dropped being dropped in the first place. He had a tough time over there, but he wasn’t alone. I don’t think that same level of respect was shown to Usman Khawaja.”

https://www.india.com/sports/usman-...ored-after-his-test-ton-simon-katich-5175360/
 
Surely they can’t drop Usman after that lovely 137. Would be very harsh.
 
Usman Khawaja becomes just the third player to make a century in both innings of a Test match at the SCG!
 
He's a legend, mans missed out 14 tests for Australia in 3 years, he would've been in the GOAT conversations had he played those.
 
Great demonstration of Khawaja's pull shot:

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/78d3gi" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
gMIwLQa.jpg
 
Two centuries in a Test: 35-year old Usman Khawaja has become the 18th Australian batter to hit two centuries in the same Test.

During the fourth day of the ongoing fourth Ashes 2021-22 Test match between Australia and England in Sydney, Australia batter Usman Khawaja has become the 17th Australian batter to score a couple of centuries in the same Test match.

In what is the 24th such instance among Australian batters, the likes of David Warner (3), Ricky Ponting (3), Matthew Hayden (2), Allan Border (2) and Greg Chappell (2) have achieved the milestone on multiple occasions.


https://thesportsrush.com/cricket-n...icketers-with-two-hundreds-in-one-test-match/
 
Well if Australia is struggling to find a spot for Khawaja then can Pakistan have him?

Just imagine Khawaja representing Pakistan in a test in Australia? Mouth watering!

Khawaja has a good 3 years left in the tank.
 
The Aussies are really milking these two hundreds with the narrative of him being of Pakistani descent. I sense either Warner or Smith will not be available for this tour, Khwaja is being billed as some kind of Don Bradman to return!
 
MenInG said:
Centuries in both innings! Incredible to lose out after that.
Click to expand...

The best to thing would be to give up his Test career now, he is 35, just scored 2 tons in an Ashes to join an elite club. By doing this he will always be remembered:D
 
It's a shame he could not put up these performance when he was younger, all that talent and massively underachieved.

IMO he is the most talented batsmen to come out of Pakistan EVER..
 
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