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Usman Khawaja has delivered a cheeky response to former Test skipper Ian Chappell’s opposition to him winning a Test recall.
The Queensland batsman is favoured to claim a Test opening spot alongside David Warner for the opening match of the Ashes series after leading Shield run scorers so far this season.
But Chappelli recently told Wide World of Sports that Khawaja was “a good player against mediocre bowling, but against good bowling I don’t think there’s much future there”.
“Everyone’s got opinions – that’s fine. To me it’s water off a duck’s bat,” Khawaja said on Tuesday. “Chappelli’s not even the best player in his family, so if I’m going to take advice, I might take it from his younger brother, who I get along with very well too. GC (Greg Chappell) is a legend.”
Khawaja said he wasn’t thinking about a Test recall for the first time since 2019.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself,” Khawaja said.
“For me, it’s concentrating on one game at a time, (and) making sure I’m doing the right things for Queensland to win games. If I do that I know things will work out.”
He said his career, and life, was “in a really good spot,” regardless of whhat happens in the seclection room.
“I have a lovely family. I have a beautiful wife. I have a beautiful daughter, I’m really enjoying my life at the moment. I’ve got a lot of things to be grateful for.
“I’m still enjoying playing this game. It’s nice when you’re scoring runs.
“Cricket’s not an easy game. There are plenty of times when you don’t score runs, and there are times when you do, so when you do you try to cash in for your team.
“I’d love to play for Australia (again). If it does happen, great, if it doesn’t, I’ll still be out there giving my 100 per cent for whoever I’m playing for, whether it’s Queensland or (Sydney) Thunder in the BBL.
Born in Pakistan, Khawaja hailed the announcement that Australia will tour there next year for the first time since 1998.
“It’s amazing. Fingers crossed, everything goes well,” Khawaja said.
“It’s massive for a country that absolutely loves cricket.
“Even though I was born in Pakistan, for me it’s just about spreading the beautiful game of cricket.”
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