Pakistan v Australia: Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja repay Justin Langer’s faith
USMAN Khawaja had never been selected as a Test opener before and Aaron Finch doesn’t even open the batting for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, yet the pair clicked in the heat of Dubai.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AARON Finch and Usman Khawaja both got married on the same day this year and have now taken the same day to cement their immediate Test match futures.
The ball-tampering scandal opened up two positions at the top of the Australian batting order, and the new couple stepped up to the plate at the first invitation in Dubai.
Both men have dropped 7kg in the off-season under Justin Langer’s fitness regimen.
That important sacrifice showed the coach they wanted it, and they have been duly rewarded.
After thinking he was destined to be pigeonholed as a white-ball specialist, Finch looked at home against Pakistan on day three as he cruised to a maiden half-century in his debut Test, before falling for 62.
MORE NEWS
MANAGEMENT: Rotation on the menu for Aussie quicks
At the other end Khawaja scored his first 50 in six career Test matches in Asia to finally end his run of misery in spinning conditions with a well-made 85.
Finch and Khawaja passed the first acid test put to them, but in the end let slip golden chances to make crucial hundreds.
A smart field placement from Pakistan ultimately nabbed Finch when he hit one straight to a fielder at short mid-on, missing a golden chance for a rare ton on debut and leaving Australia 1-142.
Khawaja had a couple of nervous moments during his innings and ultimately played a false shot off Bilal Asif, chipping him up to bat pad with his first overseas triple figure score left beckoning.
Khawaja had never been selected as an opener before in Test cricket and Finch doesn’t even open the batting for Victoria in Sheffield Shield cricket, yet the pair just clicked in the desert heat.
But will either be opening come the summer?
Khawaja could move back to No.3 and Finch may be considered a middle-order player in swinging conditions.
But Tuesday showed they might belong together at the top.
Following the controversial axing of Matt Renshaw, there was plenty riding on coach Justin Langer’s decision.
Finch was the most capped limited overs international in the history of the game never to have worn the baggy green.
No one had scored more white ball runs either and at 31 years of age, he was virtually resigned to that being his fate.
But Justin Langer felt Finch’s 13 international hundreds showed more than his mediocre first-class average of 36 suggested and he was thrown into the hot seat.
Khawaja’s sorry record in the subcontinent almost cost him his Test career.
Sent to India with a bunch of kids on the Australia A tour, Khawaja may not have survived the cut had he not made runs.
He know shapes as the pivotal figure in the Australian batting order while David Warner and Steve Smith are out, no matter what position he bats in.
Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 2 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply.