Usman Khawaja - Good but not quite good enough

Usman Khawaja - Good but not quite good enough

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As Chris Woakes landed one on the fourth-stump line under cloudy conditions with the Dukes ball moving around, there was a familiar sight that followed - one that every Australian fan had gotten used to.

It was that of Usman Khawaja half-heartedly hanging his bat outside the off stump, unsure whether to block, let the ball go or drive, and eventually ending up getting a faint nick to the keeper. A sight that has occurred far too many times in the recent past - a very unpleasant one for both himself and his teammates, but importantly, a frustrating one, as more often than not, it seems to occur after the Aussie have gotten off to a decent start. 

All three of Khawaja’s dismissals so far this series have followed a simple pattern - full, outside off-stump around driving length, in and around the fourth/fifth stump line with the ball moving away, and in each of the three occasions, he has been dismissed caught by the keeper. Frustratingly enough, the Queenslander has gotten off to starts on all three occasions, with scores of 13, 40, and 36, having even looked confident early on in his knocks, fluently flicking, pulling and driving balls away, only to bite the inevitable bullet balls later and walk back to the pavilion.

For seven years, Khawaja did not have a single substantial knock that defined his Test career, but it all changed in 2018, as he gouged out an unimpeachable 141 on a rank-turner against a peak Yasir Shah, battling out his worst demons to salvage an improbable draw on the final day for his country in Dubai. In the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, Australia thought they had found their new cult hero, someone who they could rely on and guide them during the darkest of days. 

The stage was set for him to shine in the home series against India going into it as the “senior batsman” who had to shoulder all responsibility, and well, it is safe to say he didn’t embrace it, ending the series with an average of 28.28. In fact, ever since his Dubai marathon, Khawaja has averaged just 30.92 in the 15 innings that has followed it, with a solitary fifty and a century to show for. 

But the chink in Khawaja’s armour, especially of late, has been a radical one there for everyone to see. In 11 of his last 14 Test innings, the Australian has been dismissed “caught”, with six of those dismissals being caught by the wicket-keeper. 

 Usman Khawaja Test batting average against seamers (byline and length) © Cricviz

If there ever was a telling graphic, it is this one. As highlighted by Cricviz's reliable database, Khawaja is an incredibly strong player against deliveries directed towards his body or towards the on-side, but the moment the ball is pitched outside his off-stump, his numbers drop drastically. Throughout the entirety of his career, the Australian has been guilty of playing loose shots and giving his wicket away to rather innocuous deliveries, and as seen above, he averages 15.83 and 29 to deliveries in and around the fifth/sixth stump line, all but proving his tendency to either throw his hands or fend the bat at harmless deliveries, which, arguably, could have been let go in the first place. 

Furthermore, seven of Khawaja’s last ten innings have seen him score between 10 and 40 runs - meaning he’s always got his eye in, but has failed to convert. Seven years and 42 Tests is a massive sample set to judge a player, and the question must be asked - how long are Australia willing to wait on Khawaja, who, despite all his talent, skill and experience, seems to be clutching at straws when the situation demands of him to deliver, and not actually take it by the scruff of the neck?

In contrast, someone like a Travis Head, who, despite having played less than 10 Tests, seems to be thriving under pressure, and irrespective of the opposition and the situation, has made his stay at the crease count, building trust from both his compatriots and the fans through his approach. 

The Australian, whose career has always threatened to promise so much, has unfortunately not taken off to the extent everyone expected, and while it has glided along smoothly for the most part, it has also always stumbled upon the first hurdle it has come across, meaning he’s never really gotten to the finish line, and has always had to start from square one. Good, but not quite good enough. 

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