Khawaja will Conquer Spin Demons: Darren Lehman
Nov 28, 2017 at 6:14 PM
The Australian top-order batsman Usman Khawaja, who has had a lot of problems facing spin-bowling, will be keen to overhaul his reputation when Australia take on England in the day-night Test at Adelaide. Khawaja played just one of Australia’s six Tests on the subcontinent this year, with selectors viewing him as too much of a liability on slow, turning tracks.
Going into the Magellan Ashes series, Khawaja was Australia’s in-form batsman, scoring a day-night hundred in the Sheffield Shield opener and followed it up with a pair of half-centuries against a star-studded New South Wales bowling attack. However, he didn’t have a fair start to the Ashes as he scored only 11 runs off 24 balls as he got out to Moeen Ali, who was called into the attack as soon as he came to the crease.
“Stats will say yes but for us he played (Nathan) Lyon really well in the Shield game (prior to the first Test). Missed that one against Moeen and hopefully he doesn’t do that again,” Australian coach Darren Lehman was heard saying.
However, Australia is likely to retain the same squad while there is currently no suggestion Khawaja could face the axe if he fails again in Adelaide.
“We want him to make some runs like everyone else. He did play well, so hopefully he does the same,” Lehman reminded Khawaja’s run-scoring spree earlier.
The left-handed Khawaja also played pink-ball and Fawad Ahmed’s leg-spin earlier this month, scoring 122 in a day-night Shield clash with Victoria.
“He’s been the form batsman for us in the Shield comp, so one knock doesn’t make a summer,” the 47-year-old Lehman signed off.