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Usman Khawaja

What this bloke needs is confidence and a chance to show his wares over a reasonable period of time. They need to know that they will be given a fair opportunity, unless they are clearly not up to it. I think there's enough there in Uzzy to work on. He has technical limitations but he showed a bit of graft today, just lost concentration after Pup got out.

What you don't want is for him to be in and out of the team like Hughes. The selectors destroyed Hughes' career by dropping him, picking him in a different position, dropping him etc. To be fair he didn't exactly grab his chance with both hands but you need to show promising talent that you are willing to give them an opportunity.

Agar is a bit different - I don't think he's a Test spinner at this point in his career, and dropping him won't do him much harm.
 
soso_killer said:
I like him, has the temperament for Test cricket. He just needs to convert those starts into big hundreds. Just give him time.

I said all along he is better than Watson and Hughes
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Tell that to the Aussies they seem so hung up on players like Hughes and Watson :facepalm:
 
Convict said:
Watson has to go.

Back Hughes and Khawaja and Smith and give them a run.
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Has had plenty of opportunities and has proven he can only score once every 6-7 innings, fair enough if the scores were 20-30s but more often than not he struggles to make it to double digits after his one dig.
 
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Looks ok. Have doubts about him being one for the long run.

I don't know if he's given up cricket or anything but if I was in charge of Aus cricket I'd pull out Callum Ferguson and hurl him into Test cricket. He would be a good fit for Mike Hussey.
 
Kiwi said:
Has had plenty of opportunities and has proven he can only score once every 6-7 innings, fair enough if the scores were 20-30s but more often than not he struggles to make it to double digits after his one dig.
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That's your opinion man.
 
Kiwi said:
Has had plenty of opportunities and has proven he can only score once every 6-7 innings, fair enough if the scores were 20-30s but more often than not he struggles to make it to double digits after his one dig.
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Cant play spin to save his life. Decent against pace.
 
Convict said:
That's your opinion man.
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Not an opinion, it's fact and it's not like he has the technique to really improve now does he?

XYXtwp6.png

15 scores under 11 runs in 26 innings :facepalm:
 
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Kiwi said:
Tell that to the Aussies they seem so hung up on players like Hughes and Watson :facepalm:
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attack minded players are too overrated in Australia, hard drafters are not appreciated at all.
Would an Australia ever appreciate a Kallis or a Dravid? I personaly dont think so.

The likes of Ponting, Hayden and Gilchrist got away with what they did because of drafters like Langer, S. Waugh, D. Martin, M. Waugh. So Australia had a top and middle order that was very balanced and could accomodate attack minded players, its easy to forget that.

If we do an internet poll in Australia and ask them to choose between a KP or Chanderpaul/Cook/Trott esque player, i think they would choose KP. But thats not what they need right now. They need a consistent run machine, someone who will bat for hours and hours.

(Even RandyOz wants admitted its not in their DNA to put in rearguard performances, well they need to adapt IMO coz they need those type of players)
 
technique wise khawaja is a sound player much better then hughes,cowan and watson(for test cricket)...he shoulld be persisted with
 
Khawaja should be tried out as an opener at the moment.
 
Convict said:
Khawaja should be tried out as an opener at the moment.
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You guys should have really blooded him in earlier, it's a shame that he wasn't given more opportunities before. Who know's instead of making just a fifty he could have made a hundred as well.
 
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Convict said:
Nope.

Khawaja played well and scored at the right pace in the second innings.

The innings wasn't perfect but it was good.
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what? Are you saying he should throw his wicket away like that rubbish Watson? Khawaja is a better bat than everyone in that team bar Clarke. It does not make any sense trying to change his game. He is an anchor, i dont see the point of trying to change him into a Lara.

I completely disagree with the idea of him opening the bat, he is best suited at number 3. And should be given ample opportunity, it was not the 1st time he played a gutsy innings by the way. Did the same in Jo'burg and won Australia a match chasing 300+ under severe conditions. I think Australia were 60/3.
Solid technique, good cricket brain (which i cant say the same for others) the guy is simply for keeps thats not even debatable.
 
soso_killer said:
what? Are you saying he should throw his wicket away like that rubbish Watson? Khawaja is a better bat than everyone in that team bar Clarke. It does not make any sense trying to change his game. He is an anchor, i dont see the point of trying to change him into a Lara.
.
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That's exactly what I said though???
 
srh said:
I think Australians will get bored of him quickly if he does not improve his strike rate.
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You have a very strange idea of Australians.

1. An Englishman or a Saffer batting slowly= boring hack.

2. An Australian batting slowly when the team is losing= brave, full of ticker, backs against the wall legend.
 
Didn't see the first innings, where he was apparently all at sea with nerves.

I did watch his 2nd inning though, which was pretty impressive.

Imo, he looks like a long term good prospect for Aus, averaging around the early to mid 40s.
 
Convict said:
You have a very strange idea of Australians.

1. An Englishman or a Saffer batting slowly= boring hack.

2. An Australian batting slowly when the team is losing= brave, full of ticker, backs against the wall legend.
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i just dont understand you, how did you want Khawaja to play yesterday.
Cut the riddles and all that and tell me what you want from Khawaja and dont talk about opening the bat as that is not an option. Thanx
 
soso_killer said:
no but you've been implying it. You seem to have an agenda going on regarding Khawaja
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I haven't being implying anything of the sort.

I'm very happy with Khawaja at the moment. The only player in the team who played as he should have played.

I've criticised him in the past as I think he's going to just be a nice looking Ed Cowan but he played well.
 
soso_killer said:
i just dont understand you, how did you want Khawaja to play yesterday.
Cut the riddles and all that and tell me what you want from Khawaja and dont talk about opening the bat as that is not an option. Thanx
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Khawaja played exactly as I wanted him to play yesterday.
 
if khawaja gets a run of 10-15 tests then youl c what ahigh class player he is, im afraid same cant be said of watto smith hughes because of glaring technical faults
 
saj786 said:
if khawaja gets a run of 10-15 tests then youl c what ahigh class player he is, im afraid same cant be said of watto smith hughes because of glaring technical faults
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Technique is the key base for me, if you don't have a solid or decent technique you may as well go home and play club cricket (Hughes and Watson). There's just no point playing against the big boys when you're just not capable of playing against quality bowlers who will test and work over your technique. You just need to look at how Watson and Hughes have gotten out this series to understand what I mean.
 
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For me Khawaja reminds me of a young AB de Villiers. (before your eyes pop out of the socket read carefully)

1st and foremost they are completely different type of players, that we can all agree on.

AB had a poor start to his career, but was never dropped. Now compare that to Amla who was. The issue with Amla was his technique and troubles with the short ball. He was sent packing to rectify that.
AB on the other hand never had flaws in his technique and was more a mental thing and lack of maturity (inexperience).
Because he was an attack minded player he struggled to find the transition from defence to attack. Thus he would survive the hard bit and throw his wicket away after. Which is very similar to Khawaja.
The thing with Khawaja is that he is a defence oriented player and will struggle a lil bit to shift gears from defence to attack as he is limited in the amount of strokes he can play as compared to AB.

So lets give him time to sort himself out. IMO he does not warrant to be dropped especially with what Australia currently have anyway. You dont drop players who dont have flaws in their technique (young players i.e.), you give them time instead. Khawaja averages 36 or so, AB averaged 33 in his 1st 3 years of international cricket how about that
 
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soso_killer said:
For me Khawaja reminds me of a young AB de Villiers. (before your eyes pop out of the socket read carefully)

1st and foremost they are completely different type of players, that we can all agree on.

AB had a poor start to his career, but was never dropped. Now compare that to Amla who was. The issue with Amla was his technique and troubles with the short ball. He was sent packing to rectify that.
AB on the other hand never had flaws in his technique and was more a mental thing and lack of maturity (inexperience).
Because he was an attack minded player he struggled to find the transition from defence to attack. Thus he would survive the hard bit and throw his wicket away after. Which is very similar to Khawaja.
The thing with Khawaja is that he is a defence oriented player and will struggle a lil bit to shift gears from defence to attack as he is limited in the amount of strokes he can play as compared to AB.

So lets give him time to sort himself out. IMO he does not warrant to be dropped especially with what Australia currently have anyway. You dont drop players who dont have flaw in their technique (young players i.e.), you give them time instead. Khawaja averages 36 or so, AB averaged 33 in his 1st 3 years of international cricket how about that
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Australia are the new Pakistan, they prefer ttfs over youngsta beauty's :waqar
 
soso_killer said:
For me Khawaja reminds me of a young AB de Villiers. (before your eyes pop out of the socket read carefully)

1st and foremost they are completely different type of players, that we can all agree on.

AB had a poor start to his career, but was never dropped. Now compare that to Amla who was. The issue with Amla was his technique and troubles with the short ball. He was sent packing to rectify that.
AB on the other hand never had flaws in his technique and was more a mental thing and lack of maturity (inexperience).
Because he was an attack minded player he struggled to find the transition from defence to attack. Thus he would survive the hard bit and throw his wicket away after. Which is very similar to Khawaja.
The thing with Khawaja is that he is a defence oriented player and will struggle a lil bit to shift gears from defence to attack as he is limited in the amount of strokes he can play as compared to AB.

So lets give him time to sort himself out. IMO he does not warrant to be dropped especially with what Australia currently have anyway. You dont drop players who dont have flaws in their technique (young players i.e.), you give them time instead. Khawaja averages 36 or so, AB averaged 33 in his 1st 3 years of international cricket how about that
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I can see your point.

Certainly in such a mediocre team- especially with Cowan and more suprisingly Rogers failing - Khawaja needs an extended run.

Long term if he makes it it will be as a number 3.
In short term I think it improves the team if he opens because I'm reasonably convinced about Khawaja's ability to survive the new ball and his scoring problems (in the extremely unlikely event we make a good start) aren't an issue as an opener.

Doolan to come in as the stopgap number 3.
 
soso_killer said:
You dont drop players who dont have flaws in their technique (young players i.e.), you give them time instead.
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Yes but UK has glaring flaws in his technical game outside off stump. He is so loose outside off stump it's a bit embarrassing. And his ability against spin needs a lot of work.
 
Lancashire sign Australian Test batsman Usman Khawaja

Lancashire have signed Australia Test batsman Usman Khawaja as their overseas player for the remainder of the season.

The 27-year-old played the most recent of his nine Tests in Australia's defeat at Chester-le-Street last summer, the match in which England clinched the 2013 Ashes.

The Pakistan-born left-hander has previously played for Derbyshire, and has scored almost 5,000 first-class runs at an average of more than 41.

"This is a great opportunity for me and a challenge I am really looking forward to getting stuck into," said Khawaja, who will arrive at the start of next week.

"I have heard nothing but good things about the club so getting to Manchester, meeting my new team-mates and contributing for the team is an exciting prospect.

"Every time you play cricket is a learning experience and I am looking forward to the next few months."

Lancashire cricket director Mike Watkinson said: "We are delighted to add Usman to our current squad.

"His quality and International experience at the top end of the batting order will help to create a greater platform for the team particularly in Championship cricket.

"When Simon Katich informed us that he wouldn't be returning we saw it as a great opportunity to promote a number of our emerging batsmen and we will continue in this vein with Usman complementing our current resources."

http://www1.skysports.com/cricket/n...re-sign-australian-test-batsman-usman-khawaja
 
Taking the whole pakistani side of the argument out of the equation, i feel he and Hughes been hard done by.
Usman and Hughes both have been moved up and down the order never allowed to really nail down a spot. But Usman has his own faults, homework gate, fielding not amazing (did take a good catch in ashes if i recall). But i would have stuck with him played a real gutsy 50 in the second test match, got a absolute shocking 3rd umpire call. Also Khawaja had 1 ODI gig, pretty harsh.

But it amazes me how steven smith has emerged ahead of both Hughes and Usman. Really thought the latter would be nailed down Aus XI test batsmen by now. Hope he scores good runs for Lancs, plays a lovely drive and back foot game. At 27, he can do a rodgers and come again never to late, but i hope he works hard at his game!
 
QasimAli said:
Taking the whole pakistani side of the argument out of the equation, i feel he and Hughes been hard done by.
Usman and Hughes both have been moved up and down the order never allowed to really nail down a spot. But Usman has his own faults, homework gate, fielding not amazing (did take a good catch in ashes if i recall). But i would have stuck with him played a real gutsy 50 in the second test match, got a absolute shocking 3rd umpire call. Also Khawaja had 1 ODI gig, pretty harsh.

But it amazes me how steven smith has emerged ahead of both Hughes and Usman. Really thought the latter would be nailed down Aus XI test batsmen by now. Hope he scores good runs for Lancs, plays a lovely drive and back foot game. At 27, he can do a rodgers and come again never to late, but i hope he works hard at his game!
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Steve Smith has put in some string performances to cement his spot in the Test XI. I was shocked not to see him in the World T20

Hasn't Usman played all his test matches at number 3?
 
Saqs said:
Steve Smith has put in some string performances to cement his spot in the Test XI. I was shocked not to see him in the World T20

Hasn't Usman played all his test matches at number 3?
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They're keeping Smith out of the limited overs sides so he can develop his game and leadership in Shield. It worked. He Captained NSW to a shield victory and batted very well at number 3.
 
Convict said:
They're keeping Smith out of the limited overs sides so he can develop his game and leadership in Shield. It worked. He Captained NSW to a shield victory and batted very well at number 3.
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Priorities I guess. But then again he also lead Sydney to a CL win as well right? So Aus is really missing his services in the shorter format.
 
Saqs said:
Priorities I guess. But then again he also lead Sydney to a CL win as well right? So Aus is really missing his services in the shorter format.
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Sheffield Shield and him playing well at 3 is more important for our future, especially since Clarke doesn't appear to be the type who'll hang around for ever and we have no other Captaincy candidates.
 
Surely he will be in the World Cup though.
 
I was shocked Smith didn't make the W20 either, but i am just surprised at how Smith has developed, i thought Usman and Hughes talent wise were way ahead. But steve has taken his chance, nope Usman been moved around, batted 6 in Sri Lanka, 3 in England and in S.A. i can't remember his position but he did score a 50+ and Aus won that test match. But like i said he has shot himself in the foot couple of times, but i do feel he has been given the rough end of the stick. Take away all the pakistani side of the argument, really think he is a decent lil player. Like i said hope he does well for Lanchisre gets himself back into some form, at 27 its never too late for batsmen.

** Just adding, Usman got a very good List A record of 40+ striking at 79. Believe his average this year was 70+, he is a handy accumulator.
 
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Firebreaker said:
He's an overrated batsmen till now but I hope he proves me wrong
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Over rated probably only by Pakistanis. A lot of Aussies I know don't rate him at all and neither do their pundits and commentators.
 
Khawaja is so bad he wouldnt get in our Test team

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
 
One of the most improved batsmen in international cricket.

Very good against seamers, good against spinners and more importantly rotates the strike quite well.
 
Guns get the runs. Seems to be in a very good place mentally. Probably my favourite batsman to watch right now.

He's what Sharjeel could be with a few technical adjustments.
 
usman khawaja to play in ipl for pune super gaint team in place of kevin peiterson
excellent replacement for gaints hope he will perform well for them excited to see him in ipl for first time
 
He has really worked hard on his game and improved, easily one of the most elegant players to watch in the world right now.
 
I really think he is very talented . He outshines warner and finch sometimes and thats no mean feat. He has also doing the impossible of making Pakistanis watch their 'beloved' ipl which all pakistanis love so much from the core of their hearts. :uakmal
 
Averaging over 150 in this series. Bradman who?
 
A nothing cricketer against top team but score a lot of runs against mediocre teams like Pakistan and England.
 
Leading Test run-scorers in 2022

747 USMAN KHAWAJA

388 Devon Conway
370 Abdullah Shafique
358 Jonny Bairstow
353 Joe Root
 
What a comeback to Test cricket for Usman.

Superb.
 
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