Usman Khawaja reveals Dubai reverse sweep masterclass was three years in the making

USMAN Khawaja has revealed his audacious reverse sweep show in Dubai was a three-year project that required him to challenge conventional wisdom.

Usman Khawaja played 21 reverse sweeps during his match-saving knock. Picture: Getty

USMAN Khawaja has revealed his audacious reverse sweep master class in Dubai was a three-year project that required him to challenge conventional wisdom.

Batting trump Khawaja has returned from the United Arab Emirates with an injured knee but the confidence generated by the innings of his life - a match saving 141 in the first Test against Pakistan - has eased the pain a little.

The innings contained an extraordinary 21 reverse sweep shots and Khawaja admitted when he first started trying to perfect the stroke he had to make a conscious decision not to be talked out of its virtues.

Usman Khawaja played 21 reverse sweeps during his match-saving knock. Picture: Getty

“I started reverse sweeping in Sri Lanka three years ago,’’ Khawaja told News Corp.

“It was hard enough at the start to get the courage to play it. Even when you play it in the nets you get asked “why are you playing the reverse sweep?

“I made a decision that I would not let people tell me how they wanted me to play. I had a game plan and I would stick to it.

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“I did it a few times against (English leg-spinner) Mason Crane in the Ashes and a few times on turning wickets against (Keshav) Maharaj in South Africa.

“It was not something that came out of nowhere. This series I did it a bit more. It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this stage even though I have always been able to sweep.

“The reserve sweep and coming down the wicket were two things I have worked on over the past two or three years.’’

Usman Khawaja salutes after reaching his century in Dubai. Picture: Getty

Even during the Dubai Test match he was aware of wider concerns over the stroke chatting to Fox Sports commentator Mike Hussey.

“Huss (Mike Hussey) said that every time I tried it AB (Allan Border) was like “oh no, put that shot away.’ It was quite funny.

“I feel as likely of getting out playing a forward defence getting caught at back pad as I do reverse sweeping.

“If I get out that way you may not like it but out of the rough it is the best way for me to score runs. Us lefties always have to deal with rough.

Usman Khawaja showed strength to ignore criticism of the shot. Picture: AP

“It was one of those situations where I just felt I had to score to stay in. I had to be positive. If I just blocked it I would get out.’’

Khawaja is likely to have surgery this week and is locked in a race against time to be fit for the first Test against India in Adelaide on November 6.

He believes a key to his innings in Dubai was a productive county stint with Glamorgan.

“The best thing I did was go and play some cricket in Glamorgan before I went there (to the United Arab Emirates). Two out of the first three games were wickets which spun a lot and the spinners bowled a lot of overs.

“It just reiterated my plan and my mindset. I had the blueprint in my head and I am glad it came together at that time.’’

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