Why Usman Khawaja’s Kohli screamer will define his career

Usman Khawaja has taken the catch of the summer to wiped out a week from hell — and remove an unwanted reputation he’s been unfairly tagged with from the start of his career.

Australia's Usman Khawaja, right, celebrates with his teammates after taking a catch to dismiss India's Virat Kohli during the first cricket test between Australia and India in Adelaide, Australia,Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

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In fitness testing before the tour of the United Arab Emirates, Usman Khawaja jumped higher than he ever had before.

He ran a personal best in the 2km time trial too, having stripped more than 7kgs from his frame.

The results were evident in the Test series against Pakistan, when Khawaja’s match-saving 145 in the opening match in Dubai rescued a famous draw in Australia’s first Test since the Cape Town scandal.

WATCH KHAWAJA’S STUNNING GRAB IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss India's Virat Kohli. Picture: AP

Khawaja’s talent with the bat had never been in doubt, despite the in-out nature of his 35-Test career. But his fielding had always been, for want of a better term, an issue.

He was a boundary-rider in Tests, unable to break in to the short-form teams for long stints because of his limited capabilities when not batting.

Under new coach Justin Langer, limitations are not allowed if you want to play.

The searching training sessions Langer puts the Aussies teams through these days, that’s T20, one-day and the Test team, scream a need for all-round competence.

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Khawaja, who turns 32 during the second Test in Perth, has been a major beneficiary of his own full-on focus on fitness, and in Adelaide on Thursday, his entire team was too.

He didn’t just take a catch in the gully, Khawaja took an absolute blinder, to send Virat Kohli back to the sheds after a 17-minute stay.

Khawaja jumped off his left foot, stuck out his left hand to a ball screaming his way, it went in and he didn’t let go.

Khawaja’s classic to remove Kohli. Picture: Fox Sports

It’s all down to hard work. Picture: Fox Sports

“I stuck my hand out and it is good when they do stick, it gave us great momentum,” Khawaja said.

His awesome catching ability, he now has 26 in Tests, was rewarded with a spot at first slip, but only when Nathan Lyon was bowling, when the reflexes need to be sharper.

There was pre-game talk the Aussie coaching staff had sought assurances from Khawaja he was ready to go for the first test. Not physically, even though had knee surgery after the UAE series, and only one Shield game as preparation.

Australia's Pat Cummins kisses the head of teammate Usman Khawaja after this stunning grab. Picture: AP

They asked if he was OK mentally after his brother, Arsalan Tariq Khawaja was arrested, then released, during the week in Sydney on Tuesday amid accusations he framed a colleague with a fake terror hit list targeting senior politicians in a feud over a woman.

Khawaja told everyone he was shocked, but OK. His teammates rallied around him too.

They rallied again, euphorically at 11:20 on Thursday when Khawaja took that catch for the ages.

He might not have broken his personal best again, but it was a jump he’ll never forget.

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