Usman Khawaja is Our Best Batsman by a Street – Ricky Ponting

Sep 13, 2018 at 5:25 PM

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Usman Khawaja is Our Best Batsman by a Street – Ricky Ponting

Former Australia cricketer, Ricky Ponting voiced his support for Usman Khawaja recently. Punter expects the southpaw to step up and deliver in the absence of Steven Smith and David Warner.

Punter backs Khawaja

Australia is set to tour UAE for a two-match Test series against Pakistan. It will be their first tour since the controversial visit to South Africa, and Khawaja is expected to play a critical role in the spin-friendly pitches.

Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting
Usman Khawaja faces heat after struggling against spin. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

The elegant batsman has stamped his authority on the home soil, averaging close to 60. But the same can’t be said about the Asian traveller.

On turning tracks, Khawaja’s average drops down to 14.62, as he managed to fetch mere 117 runs from nine Test innings. What holds the left-hander in a good state is his recent hundred during the ‘A’ tour to India.?

 

Khawaja the main-stay in the absence of Smith, Warner

Ponting is not stranger to such issues. He admitted having questioned his ability on sub-continental wickets. Khawaja, 31, had a forgettable tour to India last year. He was benched for the entire series and was seen carrying the towels and drinks apart from belting it out in the nets. Khawaja got selected for a lone Test against Bangladesh before getting dropped again.

“It’s difficult. I was a bit the same; the first few tours I had to India, I struggled. But the more I played, the more I learned about how I was going to survive and how I was going to cope. The last couple of tours I had there were some of the best I ever had.” Ponting told cricket.com.au.

“There’s been lots of different discussions over the last couple of years about Khawaja and how to get the get the best out of him,” he said. “(People wonder), ‘is he an Australian Test match player only? Do we just not pick him on the subcontinent?”

Ricky Ponting, Usman Khawaja
Ricky Ponting calls Usman Khawaja the best bet in the Australia team now. Image Courtesy: Getty

Ricky Ponting believes in the absence of experienced campaigners like Warner and Co., Khawaja should get to play most of the time in the middle.

“I just think you’ve got to keep picking him – with Warner and those guys out; he’s clearly our best batsman by a street. The more he can play in those conditions, the more he’ll start to work it out,” he said.

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