The hyperbole around Usman Khawaja at the moment is ridiculous. Best batsman in the country? Come on!
Even if you ignore the claims of Steve Smith and Meg Lanning, there are a couple of guys by the names of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the country at the moment who’d have something to say about that.
Batting better than Brian Lara? Give it a rest Mark Waugh – that comment has the ring of a selector who was out-voted at the selection meeting.
Khawaja might be arguably the form Australian batsman at this moment, but form is temporary.
Everyone needs to take a deep breath and think before speaking or posting.
Just to be clear, I’m as a big a fan of Usman Khawaja as there is, and have written articles about him in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Most of those focused on his Test potential, however during 2014 I also posted several comments about him being a lock for the 2015 Cricket World Cup, based on his dominance in the previous two One Day Cup competitions.
Alas, he blew out his ACL during a BBL fielding drill and missed that opportunity, although it is debatable if he would have been given a call-up.
Since his recovery from that injury and his return to cricket in July 2015, Khawaja has poured on the runs, amassing 1460 from 20 matches across all formats, at an average of 76.8.
Even if you discount the not-outs due to the small sample size it would still be an average of 60.8. That’s a pretty good six months.
Which brings us Khawaja’s non-selection in the national ODI and T20 teams.
While his form has been up and down since his international debut in 2011, especially against the red ball, Khawaja had clearly been working on his game over the last five years, and the results showed first in the limited overs formats.
Khawaja played three ODIs for Australia at the start of 2013, for three single-digit scores. However, since being dropped from the national limited-overs squad in February 2013, Khawaja has averaged 56.9 from 27 List-A matches, and 70.6 from 12 T20 matches.
That is 2057 runs from 39 limited overs innings, at an average of 60.5 played under different conditions on three continents (Australia, England, and India) between February 2013 and January 2016, despite needing a knee reconstruction in the middle.
That is not a purple patch, that is consistent run-scoring of the highest calibre sustained over three years.
So how is Khawaja not one of the best four white-ball batsmen in Australia?
The answer is actually pretty simple. The side is not being picked from scratch; some players have the benefit of incumbency and proven international performances – as it should be. Australia won the ODI World Cup recently, and although some players have retired, a good number with legitimate claims remain.
There are really only four batting spots in a modern limited overs side, with a wicketkeeper, two or three all-rounders, and three or four bowlers making up the rest of the team. Of those four batting spots, ODI captain Steven Smith, T20 captain Aaron Finch, and vice-captain in both formats David Warner take up three. That leaves one spot (plus another one or two in the wider squad) for which the following players are competing: Shaun Marsh, George Bailey, Chris Lynn, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja. Legitimate cases can be made to include any of them, which means – as Brett McKay wrote on Tuesday – at least two batsmen are going to be very unlucky.
Personally, I look at Khawaja as one of the batsmen to build the Australian batting order around – Warner opening followed by Khawaja and Smith at first and second drop for Tests, and then all moving up one spot in the limited overs formats.
However my personal opinion does not mean the selectors are wrong.
Khawaja is still settling into the Test line-up, and although he’s played well at home, scoring well overseas is the hallmark of a world-class batsman. If he is to become a mainstay of the batting order, then the selectors want him to be focussed on the Test matches in New Zealand, rather than trying to establish himself in the Australian limited overs teams. This is a similar rationale to the one applied to Nathan Lyon – you and I may not agree with it, but it is not unreasonable.
Khawaja doesn’t bowl or keep wicket, which means for half of the match his job is fielding, and he isn’t a gun fielder. He isn’t terrible, he isn’t lazy, but neither is he any more than ‘good’. If Khawaja fails with the bat, he is unlikely to contribute to the match by saving a dozen runs or affecting a game-changing run out in the field.
The selectors have made the call that Finch is their ODI and T20 opener, as well as T20 captain, which means there isn’t space for Khawaja at the opening spot he is most suited to take.
Khawaja will probably get an opportunity, and when he does it will be up to him to perform well and seize it, however right now there isn’t an opportunity.
So, just to reiterate, everyone needs to calm down!
Harry G
Guest
Your surname isn't Marsh is it Kev? Shaun in for Warner? Come on. Give Usy a break. No Australian batsman is more comfortable in their own skin at the moment. Yes form is temporary, but in this unique case, given he has dominated all summer across all formats, this world class form should be exploited rather than put aside for the sake of traditional board/selectors decisions. Australia have been made to look second rate largely due to our premier bowlers not being available. Indias top 3 have destroyed them. Why not make it a batting war? Drop an all rounder and have Steve Smith bowl an over or two, Davey Warner if available a bit of overarm rubbish? They can't do any worse, right? (Apologies for the double post - missed my editing bracket)
Harry G
Guest
Your surname isn't Marsh is it Kev? Shaun in for Warner? Come on. Give Usy a break. No Australian batsman is more comfortable in their own skin at the moment. Yes form is temporary, but in this unique case, given he has dominated all summer across all formats, this world class form should be exploited rather than put aside for the sake of traditional board/selectors decisions. Australia have been made to look second rate largely due to our premier bowlers not being available. Indias top 3 have destroyed them. Why not make it a batting war? Have Steve Smith bowl an over or two, Davey Warner a bit of overarm rubbish? They can't do any worse, right?
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Fair point John.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
The selectors and Fans want to see how Head/Lynn perform at next level. Give them a taste, make them more hungry. The two are future of Australian cricket, excitement around them is obvious. Credit to selectors for giving them a go at this level. Now both of them face Ashwin and Co and both realize what it takes to move to next level. I'm very keen to see how them perform in next 2 games. If they do well.....great, if they fail then both will know what to work on to move to next level.
anthony aggs
Guest
Whilst you make some good points kev, the decision to leave him out is very poor. the form he is displaying is outstanding, and he deserves to be picked for it. Everyone needs to cool down? no - everyone who is standing for him is doing so because his form is amazing.
Nathan Kapur
Guest
The reality of the situation: 1. Khawaja has definitely cemented his position in the test side (would love to see how he does on seeming wickets, but even smith and warner fall on seeming wickets to). 2. Khawaja's ODI form for the last three years has been fantastic, the last two matador cups, being the Queensland captain, scoring runs with Australia's A team in India. Question is who do we drop? My answer is simple Aaron finch or Bailey. Bailey is not a long term solution, he is however more reliable then the former. Aaron's technique is complete nonsense, there's no reliability watching him, Khawaja deserves his position, even Shaun marsh does. 3. Khawaja should be in the T20 side no doubt. Mate he only had 4 matches and nearly top scored in the BBL while the others had nearly twice the amount of games. No one and I mean no one played in his league, his shot selections and temperament. Just looked so solid. Fine Aaron finch I would definitely keep in the T20 team he has justified it. Khawaja should be 3 or 4 depending upon when smith wants to bat. 5 maxwell.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
I think you're partly right Ronan. Khawaja is beyond being in a "purple patch", he's scored freely and well for two and a half years in both limited overs formats. However, you are right that it thus far only applies to Australian (or home) conditions. He's scored decently in India and England but not consistently and massively the way he has in Australia.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
All my articles are balanced and reasonable no matter what they are about. I am perfectly willing to admit that not all of my comments are - but that is because I don't spend the same amount of time on them, and I like to argue. It seems to just be a few frothing at the mouth piston-wristed gibbering gibbons who are relentlessly hijacking threads at the moment - hence Alexei's and my pieces (and Brett McKay's tempestuous forum rage).
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Right now, Khawaja may well just be in a purple patch. We'll really know where he's at in eight months time after he's been tested in seam-friendly condition in the NZ Tests, under the spotlight of a T20 World Cup in India, and in the spin-friendly environment of Sri Lanka in 3 Tests.
Dave
Guest
Khawaja needs to be selected and also Wade needs to get dropped. Don’t know why they favour him so much. Bring in Tim Paine. Bowlers need to step up. Can’t just rely on our batsmen!
Peter Z
Guest
Yeah, well, its my delusion and i'm sticking with it. PS Still think the NSW mafia have looked after their own at the expense of players of the other states ...
Pepper Jack
Guest
Brad Hodge was stuck behind one of, it not, the greatest test team of all time. Any other era he walks in. Who makes way for him? Jamie Siddons was stuck behind Healy. Matthew Elliot played 21 Tests and averaged 33. In his last 11 innings before he got dropped he scored a total of 120 runs. He was recalled for one test and scored 0 and 1. Hardly unlucky
Peter Z
Guest
Take it easy mate. What about Brad Hodge, Jamie Siddons, Matthew Elliott and err ... all the other ones.
Anveer
Guest
He already has one
Anveer
Guest
My kids also look up to Khawaja and seeing him gives a lot of young indian kids inspiration to play for Australia
Anveer
Guest
Khawaja is s good fielder and better then say bailey or marsh who have dropped sitters recently, just another excuse not to pick Khawaja
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
And that is important for an Australian cricketer why? BTW Red Kev, what were you thinking writing a sensible, well thought out unbiased piece on a Queenslander? This needs to stop
Pepper Jack
Guest
Which Victorians were hard done by? Oh, you mean Peter McIntyre, Adam Dale, Brad Williams, Mick Lewis, Shane Harwood, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Ben Laughlin, Dirk Nannes, Clint McKay, Travis Birt, Michael Beer?
Peter Z
Guest
As a Victorian, all I can say is it's a nice change to see a New South Welshman being hard done by for once. Can't remember the last time one of em was forsaken by our National selectors. And just on being hard done by [insert any one of a dozen hard done by Victorian cricketers over the last 30 years] .....
AlanKC
Guest
S Marsh was in his shoes and made way for him on Boxing Day as I recall.