Khawaja can dominate like Clarke: Gayle

Updated December 31, 2012 13:36:11

West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle believes Sydney Thunder team-mate Usman Khawaja can emulate Michael Clarke's rise to the top of world cricket if he is given another chance in the Test team.

With the imminent retirement of Michael Hussey leaving a sizable gap in Australia's middle order, Khawaja has been thrust back into the spotlight as a proposed replacement.

The 26-year-old left-hander is in fine touch, scoring the third most runs (438) in the Sheffield Shield this summer while also peeling off a crisp, unbeaten 66 in the Thunder's four-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers in their Big Bash League Twenty20 game on Sunday night.

Khawaja played just six Tests before being unceremoniously dumped for failing to ignite the top order after averaging 29.22, with a top score of 65 in a brief stint peppered with scores in the 20s.

But Thunder teammate Gayle sees a bright future for Khawaja, likening his anticipated Test return to that of captain Clarke, who was dropped in late 2005 only to return and develop into the world's number one batsman.

"He definitely has a bright Test career ahead of him," Gayle said.

"If given the chance, I can't see any reason why he can't score runs and be dominant like a Michael Clarke in the future.

"Once he gets his chance, hopefully he'll make use of it."

Khawaja is on standby for Clarke (hamstring) for the third Test against Sri Lanka at the SCG starting on Thursday, which will be Hussey's last.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 31, 2012 13:36:11

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Khawaja in Test reckoning after Thunder withdrawal

Updated December 18, 2012 17:33:42

Usman Khawaja looks the favourite to replace Michael Clarke in Australia's batting line up should the Test captain fail to prove his fitness in time for the Boxing Day Test.

Khawaja's Big Bash side the Sydney Thunder has withdrawn the left-hand batsman from its squad for its upcoming match against the Adelaide Strikers on Thursday.

The Pakistan-born 25-year-old is expected to be added to an extended Test squad for the second Test of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, with Australian selectors looking to give Clarke as much time as needed to recover from his hamstring strain.

More to follow.

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted December 18, 2012 17:32:34

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Khawaja hits form in Bulls debut

Updated October 02, 2012 07:56:32

Usman Khawaja fell 12 runs short of a hundred in his first innings for Queensland on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at the Gabba.

Batting on a green wicket in overcast conditions, Khawaja arrived at the crease with the score at 1 for 0 and guided the hosts to 5 for 202 at stumps.

Khawaja said he relished the challenge of facing different conditions compared to his former home of the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It's tough work but at the same time it's enjoyable too," he said.

"You're going to play and miss a fair few balls but you're also going to get opportunities because obviously the bowlers are attacking - trying to take wickets.

"It's a different challenge from back home but at the same time it's enjoyable.

"I've grown up at the top order, opening or at batting at three and you need to be able to play the moving ball."

With Test selector Rod Marsh watching, the stylish left-hander combined patience with expansive stroke-making hitting 11 boundaries and punishing the inexperienced Redbacks seam attack when they erred in length.

Australia's first-choice spinner Nathan Lyon did not escape either.

The former New South Wales batsman brought up his half century in style, moving down the wicket and crashing Lyon (0 for 35) through the covers for four.

Khawaja also hit the spinner over mid-on for six.

The only false shot before his dismissal came when, with 11 to his name, shortly after a 54-minute rain delay, he was dropped by Gary Putland at long leg off the bowling of Chadd Sayers (2 for 62).

Khawaja, who made the last of his six appearances for Australia against New Zealand in Hobart last December, had 71 by tea and seemed set to smoothly progress to three figures when he was trapped leg before by Sayers shortly after tea, ending a 229-minute stay at the crease.

Joe Burns was Queensland's next highest scorer reaching 35 before he feathered behind to become Putland's (2 for 56) second victim.

Captain James Hopes with 22 and James Hartley, on eight, will resume the innings for the reigning Shield champions on Tuesday.

Lyon won the toss and received early reward for sending the Bulls into bat when Wade Townsend fell leg before without scoring to Sayers.

Khawaja and Andrew Robinson steadied the ship before the latter edged Putland behind for 30, with 69 on the board.

The Bulls other Test batting hopeful in action, Peter Forrest, was dismissed for 16 edging Joe Mennie (1 for 39) to Michael Klinger at first slip.

With similar weather forecast for Tuesday, South Australian debutant Phil Hughes is likely to face a stern test of his technique against accomplished Bulls pace bowlers Ben Cutting and Alister McDermott.

Nathan Hauritz was named as 12th man on his return to action for Queensland, following six years with New South Wales, with leg-spinner Cameron Boyce preferred on a pitch more suited to seam bowling.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, adelaide-5000, sa

First posted October 01, 2012 18:54:21

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Khawaja prepared to work back through T20

Updated December 23, 2011 13:31:18

Usman Khawaja's fight to return to the Test arena starts at the Olympic Stadium on Friday night.

Twenty20 may not be the perfect platform to make a case for Test selection, but it is certainly not the worst according to Sydney Thunder coach Shane Duff.

The consensus is Khawaja's chances of playing for Australia this summer are slim at best, due to the lack of first-class cricket.

However, Duff does not see it that way.

"I think it has been proven over time that runs and form are runs and form - no matter what format they're playing in," Duff said ahead of the clash with the Adelaide Strikers.

"I've got no doubt players can make runs and get themselves into that Test team if the opportunity arises."

Khawaja returned to Thunder training on Thursday, a day after he was omitted for the Boxing Day Test.

Daniel Smith, who will be the side's stand-in captain in the absence of David Warner, suggested the 25-year-old was taking a glass-half-full view to his omission from the Test squad.

"I spoke to him on the phone yesterday and he's keen as mustard to get involved (with the Thunder)," Smith said.

"The good thing he said was concentrating on playing more Twenty20 cricket - now that he hasn't got to shuffle Test cricket with T20 cricket.

"He (wants) to show his worth in Twenty20 cricket."

Khawaja received support from the opposition camp on Thursday, with Strikers coach Darren Berry sympathising with his plight.

"I thought it was a tough call on him to be honest... he's a class player," Berry said.

The Strikers will have to make at least one change to the side that easily accounted for Melbourne Renegades, with Nathan Lyon on Test duty.

Leg spinners James Muirhead, an 18-year-old who has played for Australia's under-19 side this year, and 39-year-old one-time Test player Bryce McGain are in line to replace Lyon.

Adelaide are even considering a four-prong spin attack featuring McGain and Muirhead alongside incumbent tweakers Aaron O'Brien and Johan Botha.

"We'll have a look at the pitch and that will determine it."

Smith was tight-lipped on who would replace Warner and open the batting with West Indies ace Chris Gayle.

"It could be any one of four or five players, depending on their team and the pitch."

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 23, 2011 13:31:18

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Thunder sign Khawaja after Perth snub

Posted July 9, 2011 19:23:00

Sydney Thunder have confirmed the signing of Usman Khawaja, just a day after Big Bash League rivals Perth Scorchers claimed to have signed the promising Test batsman.

The Thunder announced on Saturday the 24-year-old would join the likes of David Warner and Chris Gayle in playing for the side in the upcoming revamped Twenty20 competition.

It completed a bizarre turn of events after officials from the Scorchers were forced to backflip on claiming they had signed the player on Friday.

The WACA believed it had reached an agreement with Khawaja's management on Wednesday that the 24-year-old left-hander would line up for the Scorchers in the revamped Twenty20 tournament.

However, his management communicated to the WACA that Khawaja was still considering his options and likely to join another BBL team closer to his Sydney home.

WACA cricket manager Andrew Scotford said there had been a "miscommunication" with Usman before his departure to Zimbabwe to join the Australia A tour.

But the Thunder, who will play at Sydney's Olympic stadium, wasted no time announcing they had sealed the deal on Saturday.

"I am honoured to have the chance to be playing for the Sydney Thunder this season," Khawaja said in a statement released by the club.

"I have been very impressed by the calibre of players already in the squad and we are looking forward to making our mark in the first season of the Big Bash League."

- AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, wa, perth-6000

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Khawaja burns Scorchers in BBL

Posted July 8, 2011 21:43:00

The Perth Scorchers jumped the gun on Friday, holding a media conference to announce the signing of exciting new national team batsman Usman Khawaja for the coming Big Bash League (BBL).

The WACA believed it had reached an agreement with Khawaja's management on Wednesday that the 24-year-old left-hander would line up for the Scorchers in the revamped Twenty20 tournament.

However, his management communicated to the WACA later in the day that Khawaja was still considering his options and likely to join another BBL team closer to his Sydney home.

WACA cricket manager Andrew Scotford said there was a "miscommunication" with Usman before his departure to Zimbabwe to join the Australia A tour.

"We were very confident that we had secured his services and could make an announcement to that end today," he said.

"We are obviously disappointed to lose a player of Usman's calibre at the 11th hour, but the BBL contracting window has shown that as doors close, others open, and we look forward to making more exciting announcements in the coming days."

- AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, australia, wa, perth-6000

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