Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie admitted he was wrong in writing off Usman Khawaja when he saw the left-hander play in the Sheffield Shield. However, Khawaja has proved his mettle in the recent past and Gillespie has admitted the same.
The left-hander was Australia’s best batter in World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle, scoring 1621 runs in 17 Test matches at an impressive average of 64.84 to finish as the second-highest run-getter behind Joe Root.
After twin failures in the World Test Championship final against India, Khawaja bounced back to his best in the ongoing first Ashes Test match against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The left-hander scored an unbeaten knock of 126 runs on the second day’s play to put Australia in front.
The southpaw is currently batting on 139 runs and Australia is in arrears by only 24 runs in response to England’s 393-8 (declare). Khawaja batted at his absolute best on a pitch that has almost nothing on offer for the pacers.
In fact, the 36-year-old was fortunate as he got a reprieve when he was dismissed on a no-ball by Stuart Broad on the second day’s play.
Jason Gillespie wrote for Dialy Mail, wrote: “A couple of years ago, I saw Usman Khawaja play for Queensland in a Sheffield Shield game when I was coaching South Australia. I remember saying: ‘I think he’s past it. I don’t think there’s much left.’
“I felt he was a bit slow and he was battling. I thought his time was nearly done. Well, he has certainly proved me wrong and I am delighted to admit it. You love it when players show they still have more to give,” he added.
Gillespie added that Khawaja was able to grab his opportunity with both hands after Travis Head was ruled out with Covid-19 in 2022. Khawaja returned with scores of 137 and 101* in the Sydney Test match against England and thus was awarded Player of the Match.
“It all goes back to that sliding doors moment in January 2022, when Travis Head caught Covid before the fourth Ashes Test and Usman got the opportunity and scored a hundred in each innings. He wasn’t expecting that chance and is now playing every game as if it’s his last, with a real clear mind.”
The former pacer compared Khawaja’s opportunity with Justin Langer when the former Aussie opener got a chance to play in place of Michael Slater in the 2001 Ashes.
“It reminds me of the time Justin Langer replaced Michael Slater for the final Test of the Ashes in 2001. He thought he was in the last-chance saloon and so he had that attitude of, ‘I’m just going to make the most of this. I’m going to enjoy the battle, enjoy the challenge, just play and have fun.’
“Justin went on to have one of the great careers with that attitude and mindset. And I see a lot of similarities between the situation Justin was in and where Usman finds himself now,” he added.
Khawaja will look to continue the good show for Australia.
