Usman Khawaja brushes off critics and gives Sam Konstas simple advice

Despite his recent struggles against the game’s best bowlers, Usman Khawaja heads into Australia’s tour of the West Indies with familiar confidence.

Usman Khawaja says his numbers speak for themselves with the veteran opener unwilling to publicly rule out playing Test cricket beyond the upcoming Ashes series despite recent struggles against world-class fast bowling.

Khawaja has also revealed his advice for opening partner Sam Konstas, with the Australian team’s oldest player keen to help usher in a new generation top order following the retirement of David Warner and the omission of Marnus Labuschagne.

While Labuschagne has been dropped for the first Test of the series against the West Indies, selectors are sticking with Khawaja despite his modest output against Jasprit Bumrah over the summer and scores of nought and six in Australia’s World Test Championship final defeat to South Africa, dismissed in both innings by a rampant Kagiso Rabada.

Usman Khawaja found the going tough in the World Test Championship final against Kagiso Rabada. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo

In between times, Khawaja posted a career-best 232 in Galle against a spin-heavy Sri Lankan attack while also scoring a Sheffield Shield century in Hobart.

Rejecting the idea that he was no longer capable of combating quick bowling, Khawaja pointed to his output since returning to the Test arena in early 2022 as proof that he was still performing.

“I’m 38 years old so people are going to find any excuse,” Khawaja told this masthead.

“But I was the highest run-scorer in the World Test Championship cycle this time for Australia. I was the highest last cycle, so two cycles in a row. I think my Shield record over the last five years, I think I average about 50 in Shield cricket, which is pretty much all fast bowling.

“I still feel like I’m playing really well. I bat at the top of the order, so there’s going to be times where I don’t score runs, there’s going to be times where I do score runs. Stats don’t lie.”

Khawaja will turn 39 during the Ashes in what has been widely billed as the end point of an outstanding international career.

The left-hander said he would not look beyond that series but nor did he confirm his intentions to retire after the Sydney Test.

“For me it’s about concentrating on this series (against the Windies) and the Ashes. I think there’s a bigger role still, obviously trying to score runs for Australia, trying to win games, trying to win this series and win the Ashes, which is critical for Australian cricket,” Khawaja said.

“There’s probably an additional role trying to impart as much knowledge as I can and even Cameron Green, young guys batting at the top of the order.

“I’ve not looked too far ahead, as always I still feel like I’m playing well, still contributing, doing well for the team and trying to win games for Australia, I won’t think too far ahead.”

Usman Khawaja is trying to pass on what knowledge it can to Australia’s next generation of batters. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Having gone through a revolving door of opening partners since Warner’s exit early last year, Khawaja was hopeful of bedding down a productive union with Konstas, who is half his age.

Khawaja outlined the guidance he had provided the upstart opener, who returns to the Test arena after his jaw-dropping entrance against India over the summer.

“The biggest one for me is ‘don’t complicate a simple game.’ There’s going to be a lot of people come to you and say a lot of things because they mean well and you’re young, but just be mindful that at the end of the day it’s still bat versus ball,” Khawaja said of his advice for Konstas.

“I’m really excited. Hopefully forming a solid partnership at the top and having a bit of stability not only for us but for the team too. Obviously a big series coming up now but an even bigger one coming up next with the Ashes.”

On Labuschagne, Khawaja was optimistic that his long-time national and state teammate would be back despite dwindling output over two years leading to the axe.

“He’s a good friend of mine. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a terrific player. I don’t see this as the end of his international career at all. It’s very rare to play Test cricket and not get dropped no matter how good you are,” Khawaja said.

Khawaja was meanwhile unwilling to revisit his much-publicised stoush with Queensland cricket high performance chief Joe Dawes that overshadowed the lead-up to the Shield final this year.

“I’m contracted to Brisbane Heat, contracted to play for Queensland, so I’ll be playing for them,” he said.

Originally published as Usman Khawaja brushes off critics and gives Sam Konstas simple advice