Usman Khawaja is one of Australia’s best batsmen and will probably be a key figure in Australia’s attempt to win back the Ashes at the end of the year.
However, despite this, he shouldn’t go to India.
The reason for this is very simple, although he can dispatch pace bowling to all corners of the paddock, Khawaja can’t play spin.
Last summer Khawaja was in excellent form as he averaged more than 100 in the six Test matches he played over the summer. But in spite of this he was awful in Sri Lanka, scoring just 55 runs at 13.75 and in each of his four innings he was dismissed by a spinner.
His weakness against spin is well known, and there is nowhere more difficult than India for someone who can’t handle the turn.
Khawaja is too much of a liability in India, if he goes Ravi Ashwin will be licking his lips if he gets the opportunity to Khawaja. Ashwin has been one of the world’s form bowlers for years now, and he plays especially well on home decks.
But if Usman stays home, who should be in his place? The new boys – Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb – have had a great summer and it would take a brave man to drop them. The rest of the batting order, wicketkeeper aside, should remain relatively constant.
Khawaja’s spot in the team should be taken by Shaun Marsh, Marsh has played three Tests in Asia with a batting average of 78.6 scoring two centuries and a 50. Marsh is a renowned player of spin – perhaps Australia’s best since Michael Clarke.
While Khawaja will be one of the first players picked in the Ashes this November, Shaun Marsh should take his spot in India.
What do you think Roarers? Is it time for a spin-led shake up at the top?
Rob
Guest
Duminy took 1/160 in the recent Test Series. His only wicket? Khawaja in his first over. Shamsi took 2/150 in his 1 Test. Yep, he got Khawaja . Yasir Shah played injured and had a terrible series. Taking 8/672 at an AVG, of 84. His 1st was Khawaja. The scary thing is Smith, Warner and Khawaja have their best results on hard flat tracks were the ball bounces into their cross bat hitting zones. They struggle when the ball is staying low and doesn't come on to the bat? Marsh has a great technique and record against spin. Maxwell is also suited and experienced in the conditions. If Madison was a gut selection then I would be happy for Bancroft to tour.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Actually if you look at Warners record in Asian's conditions it's pretty ordinary! I think even in India he only averages around 27. Red Kev is completely right, the Cricket community is being selective in their description of who and who cannot play spin.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
That is the harsh truth Mike, Warner and Smith (brilliant against spin) failed to score big in Sri Lanka. They both need to score big in India for us to have any chance winning there and build their legacy.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
David - Little worried what Khawaja has in store for you for next 2 Ashes! A little it would appear :)
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Mate - if you don't respect and understand 145 he scored in Adelaide test, you then, my friend, are watching the wrong sport.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Yasir was ineffective because he did not have a massive cushion of runs to elevate pressure of him. Couple of attaching shots and he was under pressure to not leak runs. Bowlers like Yasir don't magical lose their effectiveness overnight, considering Lyon and SOK bowled well on same pitches. State of mind can make a threatening bowler into insipid one in matter of few overs. That is why we also need Maxi at 6 for Indian series so that Ashwin can be tamed even before the first ball is bowled.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Yes he was. So was Punter against spin, Kohli on bouncy/seaming wickets. You don't drop great batsmen, you give them time and trust them to overcome their weaknesses.
doogs
Guest
oh dear. I don't like the article but I don't feel it's racist.
doogs
Guest
Also if you want to drop people for failing maybe you could be suspended for creating a new word that I have never heard of: "unefective". Where can I find that word? You deserve a second chance at spelling that word correctly. Just as Usman deserves another go
doogs
Guest
I don't think he deserves to be dropped. I definitely feel he deserves a go in India.
doogs
Guest
Id say England would give that a fair shake after being beaten by Bangladesh and flogged in India
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Here here. This is all getting a bit ridiculous really. We should be picking our best team to play. This is getting to the point where you chop and change players based on cherry picked stats and gut feelings. We will end up with a test team with maybe one or two regular players and everyone else popping in and out depending on what the pitch looks like or who is bowling that day. Khawaja is one of our countries best batsmen, he plays. If he is that bad against spin then that is something for him to work on. Surely we employ a thousand different high performance coaches for some reason. Personally I don't think he has that big of a problem. Everyone failed in Sri Lanka, that's no reason to stamp his file "never to play on the sub continent". I like S.Marsh and feel a bit sorry for him at times, however Ussie is a better batsman, and Renshaw and Handscomb have done nothing wrong to deserve being dropped. Time to hang the baggy green on your dodgy hamstrings mate. Thank you for your time and efforts for our great cricket team.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Ross, Warner underperformed in Sri Lanka, but he still managed a couple of decent scores. A high score of 68 plus a couple of 40's
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Adrian, Yasir Shah’s test record when bowling on UAE dust bowls is excellent, he’s taken 63 wickets at 25. Yet in Australia he was relatively unefective taking 8 wickets at 84 from his 3 matches. Totally different conditions
JGK
Roar Guru
He was terrible against Swann in 2013 as well.
Adrian
Guest
I am pretty sure that Yasir Shah is a spinner, and in fact he is one of the best in the world. Khawaja ripped him to shreds.
Adrian
Guest
You only get to play the race card once per week, and only when referring to yourself or at the very least someone of the same race as you. So unless you are a Pakistani Muslim, like Usman Khawaja is, I don't think you get to play the race card.
Adrian
Guest
I am not convinced that Khawaja is bad against spin. He just had a lean patch in Sri Lanka. There's a difference.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
In the live tests vs SA he top scored in both last innings and outscored resident legends Warner and Smith over the 2 matches. He also had plenty of mates not going so hot in the lost tests in England in 2013. Smith among them. One of Swanny's wickets being one of the worst DRS decisions of all time.
JGK
Roar Guru
He will tour but he will be torn apart by Ashwin. For whatever reason he freezes on good length balls from spinners. Some above a talking about how bad he was in Sri Lanka - I'm more worried about how bad he was in England in 2013 - Swann destroyed him.