All posts tagged: Khawajas

‘He takes his leave as one of the more significant Australian cricketers of recent times’: Michael Atherton on Usman Khawaja’s impact | Cricket News

‘He takes his leave as one of the more significant Australian cricketers of recent times’: Michael Atherton on Usman Khawaja’s impact | Cricket News

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With the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne ending within two days with the Test being the third shortest in Australia in terms of balls bowled, the fifth and final test of the Ashes at Sydney Cricket Ground has the writing world talking about the pitch at the iconic venue. While Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja announced his retirement on Friday with the Sydney Test being his last in Australia colours, Khawaja will hope to end his career with a fine run at Sydney. With the Sydney pitch not offering assistance to spin in recent years, former England captain Michael Atherton has shared how Sydney pitch used to be spin friendly when Khawaja would enter the ground as a young boy during free hour of play and how Khawaja leaves as one of ‘more significant Australian cricketers’ of recent times. “All eyes are trained on this (Sydney) surface, after the schemozzle in Melbourne. Todd Murphy, the off-spinner, is in firm consideration to play his first Test on home soil and the general hope is that spin will …

Jason Gillespie reacts to Usman Khawaja’s comments about preparation and playing golf ahead of first Ashes Test at Perth

Jason Gillespie reacts to Usman Khawaja’s comments about preparation and playing golf ahead of first Ashes Test at Perth

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Former Australian paceman Jason Gillespie said that he experienced “a tinge of disappointment” watching Usman Khawaja’s press conference on Friday, where he announced he would retire after the fifth and final Ashes Test at Sydney. Gillespie referenced the criticism from some quarters surrounding Khawaja’s golf hit prior to the Ashes opener at Perth as being valid. “I’m not questioning the racism that Usman has faced throughout his life,” he told ABC Sport. “I’ve actually always admired him and applauded him for speaking up because racism is a big stain on our society, and it always needs to be called out. He referenced racism when he was talking about the criticism that he received. A few former players came out and quite rightly questioned whether that [playing golf] was the best possible preparation.” “Being questioned over that and being held to account over your choices, that’s not bullying, it’s not abuse, that’s all part and parcel of being a professional. You can’t really throw a temper tantrum when asked to take accountability for the job you’re …

Andrew McDonald Dismiss Khawaja’s Retirement Talks Ahead of Sydney Test

Andrew McDonald Dismiss Khawaja’s Retirement Talks Ahead of Sydney Test

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The Australian head coach, Andrew McDonald, has provided a major hint about Usman Khawaja’s retirement after the fifth and final test of the Ashes 2025/26. He said that the selectors have given no indication from Usman Khawaja about his playing future, but have guaranteed his selection in Sydney while acknowledging the batting unit is not functioning at full capacity. He added that Cameron Green batting in five different positionin his last five tests is a result of him having to fit around others due to not being able to bed down a role with a weight of runs and he confirmed that Beau Webster would be considered for Sydney. Australia do not play another test for eight months following the Ashes. Khawaja started the series as Australia’s long-time incumbent opener but has not opened in the series due to suffering back spasms in Perth. He missed the Brisbane Test due to spasms and then was initially left out of the side for Adelaide before being recalled at bat at No.4 just 45 minutes before the …

Australia cricket chief clarifies speculation of Usman Khawaja’s back stiffness due to playing golf | Cricket News

Australia cricket chief clarifies speculation of Usman Khawaja’s back stiffness due to playing golf | Cricket News

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Australian veteran opener Usman Khawaja could not open yesterday in the first Ashes Test. He left the field for eight minutes due to back stiffness, which meant that the 38-year-old could only open after eight minutes have elapsed in the second innings as a result, Australia had to send Marnus Labuschange as the opener instead of Usman Khawaja. As debutant Jake Weatherald was dismissed for a duck in the first over, skipper Steve Smith had to come in at number four. It was later come to known that Khawaja had played golf ahead of the Test match during an optional training session. However, CA clarified that the back spasms are a type of injury that Khawaja did have before, and it had nothing to do with golf. “Did that correlate to any of the issues? I personally don’t think so. Usman’s a very seasoned campaigner, he knows his body well, and he knows how to get himself prepared for cricket. So I think that is drawing a long bow. A lot of people talk about …

Steve Smith, Khawaja’s Centuries Put Australia in Command at Galle

Steve Smith, Khawaja’s Centuries Put Australia in Command at Galle

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Australia batters Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja’s centuries have helped the side to dominate on day 01 of the first test of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka 2025. Their solid stance has turned the tables on Sri Lanka as they completed the play with 330/2 at Stumps. After struggling sessions, the spinner stuck to bowling lines outside the leg stump. It seemed like a ploy of hope from the Sri Lanka spinners, waiting for the set batters to make a mistake. But their efforts were ineffective as Smith was content by padding the balls away. Jayasuriya did take the edge of Khawaja but the batter’s slow sweep fell safely near deep square-leg. Khawaja bounced back to form by scoring 16th test hundred on day 01. It was his first hundred after a long gap of 19 months. His last hundred was during the first test of the Ashes 2023 at Edgbaston. A big day for these two veterans … and they’re not done yet! #SLvAUS Full report from @ARamseyCricket in Galle: https://t.co/8K2boPK0MV pic.twitter.com/0PdCdnkBjQ — cricket.com.au …

Australia vs Sri Lanka: It is Travis Head, not Sam Konstas to be Usman Khawaja’s opening partner in Galle Test | Cricket News

Australia vs Sri Lanka: It is Travis Head, not Sam Konstas to be Usman Khawaja’s opening partner in Galle Test | Cricket News

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With their place in the World Test Championship final already sealed, Australia will take the field against Sri Lanka at the first Test in Galle with a new pair of openers. Despite Sam Konstas making an impressive start against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia have decided to pair Travis Head at the top alongside Usman Khawaja. The decision to go back to Head isn’t new as they had done so during their tour of India in 2023. And with Sri Lanka having a good army of spinners, Australia want Head to give them a rapid start in conditions that could make run scoring difficult. “He (Head) did really nicely in India against the new ball. He put spinners under pressure immediately and we know how well he hits the seam as well if they come with that,” said Steve Smith who will lead Australia in the absence of Pat Cummins in the series. “It’s going to be good fun watching him.” Story continues after this ad Despite confirming their openers Australia have chosen not …

‘Clearly it’s acceptable behaviour because there were no fines’: Andrew McDonald on Indian players charging towards Sam Konstas after Usman Khawaja’s wicket | Cricket News

‘Clearly it’s acceptable behaviour because there were no fines’: Andrew McDonald on Indian players charging towards Sam Konstas after Usman Khawaja’s wicket | Cricket News

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Tempers raised at the end of Day 1 when Sam Konstas and jasprit Bumrah were involved in a heated altecreation. In what happened to be the final over the day’s play in Sydney of the fifth Test Bumrah got agitated and was when Usman Khawaja was not ready to face the delivery as the clock was ticking to close of the play. Meanwhile Konstas intervened from the non-striker end. Bumrah in spur of the moment was seen walking towards Konstas and both players were stopped by the umpires. Later in the over of the final ball of the day Bumrah picked up Khawaja when all the players ran towards Konstas to celebrate the wicket. Speaking of the incident at the end of Day 2, Australian coach Andrew McDonald said “My conversation with Sam was about checking in with him. Clearly the Indian celebration was intimidating , with all of them Swarming in. So just wanted to make sure he’s okay. Considering there has been no charges on Indian team, clearly it’s acceptable behaviour because there …

“When The Opportunity Comes” Nathan McSweeney Eyes on Test Return as Khawaja’s Successor

“When The Opportunity Comes” Nathan McSweeney Eyes on Test Return as Khawaja’s Successor

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After being omitted due to below-par performances in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy, the Australia opener Nathan McSweeney has aimed for a test return as a long-term replacement for Usman Khawaja once he retires. McSweeny opened the innings with Usman Khawaja in the first three tests but his performance was not up to the marks, which saw him replaced by Sam Konstas in the Boxing Day test with 19-year old making an immediate impact by scoring a half-century. Pakistan-origin Khawaja has reported that next Ashes summer could be his ideal swan-son, given the likes of Konstas and McSweeney are staking claim for the opener’s slot. “I’d love to, there’s no doubt about that. Ussie has been awesome, but when the opportunity comes or if it does I would love to do that,” said McSweeney. “I haven’t had heaps of time to think about it, to be honest, it all kind of happened fairly quickly, and then I was back here playing T20 cricket,” said McSweeney. Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney (image: X) Nathan said he …

“Very Strategic, Always Has A Plan”: Usman Khawaja’s Special Praise For India Star

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Star Australia opener Usman Khawaja heaped praise on legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and said that the 37-year-old always has a plan and is very strategic. In the upcoming days, Australia will take on India in the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ashwin has stunning numbers against Australia, he played 22 Test matches and 42 innings against the Aussies, in which he has picked up 114 wickets at an economy rate of 2.70. While playing 10 Test matches on Aussie soil, Ashwin bagged 39 wickets at an economy rate of 2.93. The most awaited Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will begin on November 22, with the first Test at Perth. Over the years, India has regained an upper hand over Australia in the series. India has won its previous four series against Australia in a row, including two wins in Australia in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons. This has made India a much more successful side in the series, with India winning the BGT 10 times and Australia winning it five times, with their …

Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja’s Replies To “Ever Watched Adult Material In VR” Go Viral

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Some of the Australian cricketers, including the likes of Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, were went through a funny lie detector test recently. Videos of the test is going viral on social media as the cricketers were asked some personal questions too. Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, and Josh Hazlewood were the other members of the Australian cricket team, who were part of the lie detector test. The test took place during a ‘Fletch and Hindy‘ show on the Fox Network. NDTV could not independently identify the credibility of it. During the test, all the cricketers were asked some funny and personal questions. A blue light on the buzzer would go up if the answer was correct. However, a wrong answer would see the a red light go up on the buzzer with the respective player getting a bit of an electric shock. Among the many funny and personal questions asked from the players, one was related to adult videos. “Have you ever watched porn through VR (Virtual Reality),” asked one of …