Usman Khawaja is in the form of his life. He scored a century on Boxing Day and has followed it up in the Big Bash by scoring 345 runs at 172.5.
Since his readmission to the Test arena, Khawaja hasn’t looked back – scoring centuries in the long and short forms of the game.
Everyone suddenly became a Khawaja fan – except, it appears, the selectors. Usman will not be boarding the plane for the New Zealand one-day tour.
But the decision to leave him out of the upcoming Chappell–Hadlee series in New Zealand, while controversial, was the right one.
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The current Australian top five consists of David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, George Bailey and Mitchell Marsh. All five performed with the bat in the recent ODI series against India and deserve to keep their positions in the team.
The Australian selectors were left with the decision to have either Shaun Marsh or Usman Khawaja running the drinks against New Zealand.
Seeing as all players not involved in the one-day series would be able to play a full round of Sheffield Shield prior to the start of the Test series against New Zealand, the selectors decided that it would be better off for Khawaja to play domestic cricket rather than sit on the bench for a one-day series.
The selectors have made a lot of bad decisions over the past few years, but I agree with them on this one.
Yeah Yeah
Guest
Truth hurts? It is that important it requires continual discussion. What are you so pro BCCI?
Yeah Yeah
Guest
You actually think SA will actually field a bowling lineup that strong? If you have been paying attention you will clearly see SA cricket is fast going down the route of West Indies cricket. SA are highly skilled but the system is against them. It is against anybody who is not part of the big 3 (Go Google that and yes Australia has been "blackmailed" to be part of it). Indian BCCI greed will kill cricket, particularly test cricket in favor of T20. Wake up and smell the roses.
Yeah Yeah
Guest
Well Alexei you gained one level of respect today from me by publishing my comment. You do have some balls at least.
Yeah Yeah
Guest
Well, considering Usman is in the red hot form of his life and has out performed any of the "safe" positions the author mentioned it is a clear indication the author is "Anti Muslim" not racist as Islam is a religion not a single race. Go analyse the stats he has outperformed the "safe" options. Hope you sleep well and your family are so proud of your discrimination. You have proven nothing other than your bias. Usman deserves to play for Australia in all three formats based off current form compared to other players. Unlike you Author I look outside religion and just current form. If Usman starts failing I would drop him in a second based off form. What you gonna do? Ban my post because it don't suit you? Be man a man and try to defend the undendable I dare you. You only have strawman Jingoistic based arguments
James Fitzgerald
Roar Rookie
When players are in form that are currently in the national side there is zero reason to drop them Just ask most domestic players in the 90's, 2000's that couldn't get a game when they were consistently scoring over 1000 runs a season and Australia was dominating ODI's and Tests He can bide his time and play tests
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Really! Has this not been discussed to death. Click bait perhaps?
Amitabh
Guest
Australia will be touring South Africa may be in September this year. Can't wait to see Kwaja bat against Stain, Philander, Morkell and Rabada. Unfortunately there is no tour of India for Australia this year, would have been fun watching him bat on those rank turners against Ashwin and Co.. Well, we can have a trailer of that during the WT20. But i think I'll have to wait till 2019 till I see him bat under the swinging conditions where he will do well. Khawaja will be among the best in the world in the next few years
Harry
Guest
No it is not the right decision. You are defending good and reasonable form against sensationbal form. The quality of khawaja's innings in all forms of the game is exceptional, and demands he be in Australian colours in all forms of the game. You are supporting seniority and "wait your turn " thinking and not "runs on the board". The only time the selectors look past it and out of touch is when they fail to respond a player who is putting the runs on the board and reaching spectacular heights. Khawaja is proving that he is truly an elite and rare find. The decision to leave him out, looks bad and is bad for the fans and for australia. cheers Harry
UTK-fan
Guest
Yet another Usman Khawaja article. If you want people to calm down, why start the topic? Perhaps, let's focus on how he could add another dimension by finding love? Erin Holland, please help a friend..