Chrish
First Class Captain
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2015
- Runs
- 4,827
- Post of the Week
- 1
http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket...s/news-story/f2bb12223a8844f2448973de4ca3b76b
"The duo were dropped two Tests into Australia’s 3-0 series defeat, which extended the country’s losing streak in Asia to nine Tests. Khawaja believes his axing was “fickle”.
For his part, the left-hander made 55 runs across four innings at 13.75 and Burns made 34 at 8.50. It was chalk-and-cheese from their performances in Australia and New Zealand in the summer, when they averaged 101.85 and 52.23 respectively. Still, the 29-year-old believes he deserved a longer leash in Sri Lanka.
“It was disappointing that Joe Burns and I were sort of the scapegoats for not performing,” Khawaja told Fairfax of his axing two Tests into the series.
“I just thought that I’d only played two Test matches in the subcontinent and I got dropped. I wasn’t the only person who wasn’t scoring runs. There was only one other person who scored a 50 in the first two Test matches at that time and that was Steve Smith.”
Khawaja, who is being considered for a position anywhere in Australia’s top three for the first Test against South Africa, described his omission for the third Tests against Sri Lanka as a “fickle” decision.
“I only had two bad Test matches on tough wickets (in Sri Lanka),” he said.
“I found it pretty fickle that the selectors dropped me for the third one. It was disappointing how that panned out. But I guess there’s some things you don’t have control over.”
He also hit back at comments from Steve Waugh that he needs to get hungrier.
“I would have thought (he comes back in), he’s a world class player. I guess the jury is out on how much he really wants it,” Waugh said on Tuesday.
“Because every time he does well he tends to drop off, so does he get satisfied with his performance?
“I think he’s just got to get a bit hungrier.
“He’s got the talent, I mean we all saw the way he batted last year in Australia, as good as anyone in the world.
“Then to drop off so quickly to me it’s lack of concentration or not respecting opposition enough. But something there (needs to happen to) turn him from a good player to a great player which he’s capable of.”
Responding to those comments, Khawaja pointed to his bumper 2015-16 summer as proof that he is hungry enough.
“I scored four Test hundreds in a row,” he said. “So I don’t think so.” "
"The duo were dropped two Tests into Australia’s 3-0 series defeat, which extended the country’s losing streak in Asia to nine Tests. Khawaja believes his axing was “fickle”.
For his part, the left-hander made 55 runs across four innings at 13.75 and Burns made 34 at 8.50. It was chalk-and-cheese from their performances in Australia and New Zealand in the summer, when they averaged 101.85 and 52.23 respectively. Still, the 29-year-old believes he deserved a longer leash in Sri Lanka.
“It was disappointing that Joe Burns and I were sort of the scapegoats for not performing,” Khawaja told Fairfax of his axing two Tests into the series.
“I just thought that I’d only played two Test matches in the subcontinent and I got dropped. I wasn’t the only person who wasn’t scoring runs. There was only one other person who scored a 50 in the first two Test matches at that time and that was Steve Smith.”
Khawaja, who is being considered for a position anywhere in Australia’s top three for the first Test against South Africa, described his omission for the third Tests against Sri Lanka as a “fickle” decision.
“I only had two bad Test matches on tough wickets (in Sri Lanka),” he said.
“I found it pretty fickle that the selectors dropped me for the third one. It was disappointing how that panned out. But I guess there’s some things you don’t have control over.”
He also hit back at comments from Steve Waugh that he needs to get hungrier.
“I would have thought (he comes back in), he’s a world class player. I guess the jury is out on how much he really wants it,” Waugh said on Tuesday.
“Because every time he does well he tends to drop off, so does he get satisfied with his performance?
“I think he’s just got to get a bit hungrier.
“He’s got the talent, I mean we all saw the way he batted last year in Australia, as good as anyone in the world.
“Then to drop off so quickly to me it’s lack of concentration or not respecting opposition enough. But something there (needs to happen to) turn him from a good player to a great player which he’s capable of.”
Responding to those comments, Khawaja pointed to his bumper 2015-16 summer as proof that he is hungry enough.
“I scored four Test hundreds in a row,” he said. “So I don’t think so.” "
I wouldn't have expected you of all people to hold that view given how you're not one to advocate the sacking of players for minuscule behavioural offences, not saying Usmans whinging is great but a little slap on the wrist would be a lot more sufficient then a dropping. Imagine if Michael Vaughan was still captain of England, KP would still be playing international cricket. Yes the KP situation was a bit more complex but I also feel that if he were in the Aussie set up he'd have been persisted with.
