Usman Khawaja has fired a warning shot forward of Australia’s Test tour of India, declaring he’s taking part in spin bowling in addition to ever.
Rain prevented any cricket from being performed on day three of the ultimate Test in opposition to South Africa in Sydney, with Khawaja nonetheless unbeaten on his highest-ever Test rating of 195.
On what was tipped as a spinner’s wicket, Khawaja has punished visiting tweakers Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, hitting 9 of his 19 boundaries off their bowling together with a six.
Khawaja additionally shined on the spin-friendly SCG final summer time with back-to-back centuries on his return to the Test aspect and averaged 165.33 on the Test tour of Pakistan final March.
He has but to play Test cricket in India however is a walk-up starter to open the batting on subsequent month’s tour, when Australia’s mettle shall be examined on decks that usually favour spin slightly than tempo.
Khawaja has had earlier success on the subcontinent, scoring a century for Australia A in a four-day match in Bangalore in 2018 and incomes player-of-the-series honours for averaging 76.6 within the 2019 ODI tour of India.
Asked to match his present type to earlier outings, Khawaja mentioned he had been going through spin “as well as I’ve ever been”.
“I’ve obviously done well in Test cricket in spinning conditions recently,” he mentioned.
“For me, it’s more about the process. I’ve got my options. I’ll continue to use them, play them in the best method possible.
“There’s no assure in cricket. I may get eight geese in a row.
“(But) I know a process that works for me, I know the different conditions and how I like to play against them.”
Steve Smith’s cryptic retirement feedback at shut of play on Thursday introduced Australia’s ageing batting order into sharper focus.
Both Khawaja and his opening accomplice David Warner are 36 and whereas 33-year-old Smith claimed he was taking a tour-by-tour strategy to his future, earlier than clarifying that he had no agency plans to retire any time quickly.
Khawaja has not performed as a lot worldwide cricket as three-format gamers Warner and Smith and doubted whether or not he was nearing the tip of his personal profession.
“I haven’t been in the grind as long as David Warner or Steven Smith,” Khawaja mentioned.
“I’ve played all forms for a bit for a three-year period and that was tough work.
“(Warner) and Smudger have been doing it for ten years now.
“Mentally it takes a toll, physically it takes a toll too.
“For me, I’m nonetheless feeling actually good.
“I’m enjoying my cricket, my body feels great.
“Thankfully, touchwood, I’m nonetheless performing and doing what I must for the staff. If these issues are persevering with to occur, I do not actually have a (retirement) timeline.”
