So, Ashes and Aussie fans! What do you want to talk about? The cricketing world is abuzz right now with Australia pulling off a thrilling conquest over England in the opening Test of the Ashes 2023 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. On Day 5, in the final session, the visitors pulled it off by a couple of wickets to go a fixture up in the five-Test series.
Honestly, it was a surprise to all, given how Ben Stokes and co have been ruthless with their ‘Bazball’ technique in the longest format of the sport lately, which has had the world talking. While Australia, the reigning World Test Champion, the win should not entirely be a surprise, given how Pat Cummins and co have implemented their own version of ‘Bazball’ is truly commendable.
However, more than the Australians, I want to discuss about a particular Oz here.
Before coming into the series, lethal veteran opener David Warner was on everybody’s radar about how he would be faring, given his turbulent batting of late. At the same time, he has also been tipped to retire later this year. He failed to deliver yet again, and the remaining four Tests in the Ashes series would be litmus tests for the southpaw. Nevertheless, the man I am about to talk about is someone who was not entirely in focus but has always been Australia’s guardian angel on quite a few occasions, and he is another southpaw in the form of another veteran opener Usman Khawaja.
Near about 9,500 runs in 62 Tests at an impressive average of 48.1, including 15 tons and 22 half-centuries, with a top score of 195, it is baffling to see why Khawaja is not among the most-talked Aussie cricketers. While some might come up with a reason that is controversial to the fullest, let’s not get there and stick to the cricketing perspective here.
As for the Edgbaston Test, Khawaja struck 141 in the first innings, followed by 65 in the second, and Australia prevailed. Moreover, it must be noted that the team is yet to lose a Test when the southpaw has scored three figures: winning nine and drawing six.
Honestly, the one reason why it can be said that people are not a big fan of Khwaja’s batting is that he relies on the old-school technique in Test cricket, which is being patient and watchful. In the era of Twenty20 (T20) and ‘Bazball’, this technique sounds obsolete. Nonetheless, given how the opening Ashes 2023 Test was played, it can certainly be asserted that some old-school techniques are not to do away with, as they are the very things under which the principle of Test cricket depends.
Also, with Australia known to play the mini-version of ‘Bazball’, which can also be termed ‘semi-Bazball’, fans have a hard time accepting Khawaja’s orthodox form of batting in today’s date, which is very un-Aussie for many. While his batting lacks gravity and that punch, it is the right tempo that is required in this format of the game to thrive, making it the very reason Australia came out on top at Edgbaston in the first place.
With the era of Warner and Steven Smith ending soon, Khawaja, too, is riding on the same ranks and might not have enough cricket left in him after a couple of years. However, he is proving that Australian cricket is not limited to the two fore-mentioned power-horses, alongside Marnus Labuschagne.
Although some might bring up the question of consistency here, let us analyse that part as well. Let us take into consideration the batting performance of the Australian top-order since the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) came into effect:
| Name | Games | Innings | Runs | Top score | Average | Centuries | 50s |
| Marnus Labuschagne | 34 | 60 | 3264 | 215 | 59.34 | 10 | 14 |
| Steven Smith | 34 | 56 | 2770 | 211 | 55.4 | 8 | 13 |
| Usman Khawaja | 21 | 38 | 1949 | 195* | 59.06 | 7 | 8 |
| David Warner | 31 | 54 | 1884 | 335* | 36.94 | 4 | 5 |
There you have it. Khawaja sits at number three. Now, honestly, the Aussie fans should ask themselves. Is Khawaja really so bad? What makes them not appreciate his batting? It is understandable that his batting is not contemporary, considering today’s standards of the aggressive/powerplay form of cricket. But he is playing Test cricket, and playing aggressive cricket is not mandatory, with all due respect to England for the example that it has set lately.
Times may have changed, especially with the influx of ‘Bazball’, but certain principles of Test cricket might never change. Also, given that Oz is playing the Ashes in English conditions, it is not an appropriate platform for it to experiment with an aggressive form of cricket. Thus, Khawaja did what he had to give his side the best chance of winning the contest. Be it England or India, it has been Khawaja who has finished as Australia’s highest run-scorer in any given condition, and the numbers prove it.
So, for once, the fans should move on from the so-called aggressive parameter of judging one’s batting and give him the due credit that he has long been craving. You seldom know the type of specially-crafted diamond he is and might regret his absence in the side once he hangs up his boots. Yes, Warner and Smith might have set themselves in a league above him. However, Khawaja deserves all the acclaim considering the league he is in.
