Pat Cummins believes Usman Khawaja can continue to open for Australia until the next Ashes series, despite calls for his retirement.
Pat Cummins believes Usman Khawaja can continue to open for Australia until the next Ashes series. Cummins indicated Khawaja's dream of a home Ashes farewell is still alive, insisting he is batting as well as ever. Khawaja's future remains a point of debate following Australia 's Border-Gavaskar Trophy win. Michael Clarke called for the opener to retire at the SCG Test.
Khawaja has made no secret of his desire to play through to next summer's Ashes, by which point he would be 39 and Australia's oldest Test cricketer since Bob Holland almost 40 years ago. Australia has a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka beginning later this month, a World Test Championship final in June and three Tests in the Caribbean before next summer. Khawaja passed 50 just once this summer against India, and has not hit a century in his past 31 completed innings dating back to the opening Test of the 2023 Ashes. He was dismissed six times by Jasprit Bumrah this summer, with the world's best bowler dominating Australia's top order. But Khawaja's experience came to the fore late in the five-Test series against India, providing a cool head as debutant opener Sam Konstas hit 57 on Boxing Day. The 38-year-old's calmness also proved vital at the SCG, holding Australia's top order together with his second-innings 41 to help Australia chase down a series-clinching 162.'It literally doesn't get any harder than opening the batting on these pitches against a quality bowling attack. It's the hardest job in cricket. I thought he looked really good at times. Sometimes he got some really good balls. He looks like he's batting as well as any other time,
Cricket Australia Ashes Usman Khawaja Pat Cummins
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Looking really sharp’: Cummins backs Smith, while hinting at another bouncer barrageCricket: Aussie captain Pat Cummins confirmed Josh Hazlewood will return for the Gabba Test and Scott Boland has been dropped yet again.
Read more »
‘They can do whatever they want’: Cummins’ blunt response to Siraj v Head flashpointCricket: Australian Test Cricket captain Pat Cummins fronts the media after Australia's win over India in the second test of the Border-Gavaskar series.
Read more »
Pat Cummins takes five as Australia avert crisis to level series with IndiaAustralia bounced back from a heavy first-Test defeat in Perth and talk of an imminent whitewash was proved off the mark with a commanding victory in Adelaide
Read more »
Usman Khawaja turns 38 during the Gabba Test. History shows he’ll struggle to improveUsman Khawaja will join Allan Border and Steve Waugh as the only 38-year-old batsmen to play for Australia in the past four decades. Can he make it to 39?
Read more »
Usman Khawaja turns 38 during the Gabba Test. History shows he’ll struggle to improveUsman Khawaja will join Allan Border and Steve Waugh as the only 38-year-old batsmen to play for Australia in the past four decades. Can he make it to 39?
Read more »
Usman Khawaja turns 38 during the Gabba Test. History shows he’ll struggle to improveUsman Khawaja will join Allan Border and Steve Waugh as the only 38-year-old batsmen to play for Australia in the past four decades. Can he make it to 39?
Read more »