Usman Khawaja addresses the ‘myth’ hanging over Australia post-Warner and urged his new opening partner to just be himself
Former Queensland teammates Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney will reunite at the top of the Australian Test batting order against India, with the senior of the two saying there is no void to fill for his new opening partner.
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Usman Khawaja won’t be changing and he has urged new partner Nathan McSweeney to be himself, claiming it’s a “myth’’ Australia needs a post David Warner spark up.
Khawaja will open with his Brisbane Heat and former Queensland teammate McSweeney against India in Perth next week convinced the 25-year-old has the fundamental tools to be a successful Test opener.
The two were briefly Bulls teammates before McSweeney headed to Adelaide four years ago.
“I just remember him being this young kid with boofy curls – couldn’t take him seriously with that hair and I’m glad he cut it off,’’ Khawaja quipped.
“He is a really good kid. Even last year when he took over the Heat, one thing I love about him he is a very good player, he has a good head on his shoulders and he’s very respectful.
“I’m quite happy he has the opportunity. He deserves it. ‘’
Khawaja was speaking after receiving a Test shirt from Pakistan legend Babar Azam for his Usman Khawaja Foundation charity lunch two days before the third Test in Brisbane.
Calm, patient McSweeney is a striking contrast to Khawaja’s boyhood mate and long-time partner Warner who had a freakish Test strike rate of 70.
But Khawaja bluntly dismissed suggestions he, or McSweeney, may have to up the ante to compensate.
“Don’t know where this myth started,’’ Khawaja said.
“As an opener you are trying to score runs and you have five days to do it.
“Last year not one Test match went into five days so I don’t know why you have to score fast. Opening is as much about being able to score runs as it is about being able to absorb and bat time. Davey was special. He could score runs while absorbing. Sometimes he’d get 100 off 100 balls. But the thing was he was consistent.
“Sometimes it took him 170, 180 balls to score 100 but the thing was he was consistent.
“I think Nathan does that really well. He can score runs but he can also bat time.’’
Khawaja said he enjoyed McSweeney’s selection “because you have to have one eye on the future’’ and McSweeney could learn from the older players above him, all of whom are over 30.
Like Khawaja once did, normal number three McSweeney, will move up the order to open but Khawaja feels the essence of his game should stand him in good stead.
“There are no guarantees in Test cricket. But Nathan doesn’t have to do anything different. You just have to repeat the process. The only thing that changes is that you have a few more people watching.
“You look at Nathan, the way he plays. His demeanour, you do kid of feel over a long period of time he will be able to handle the pressure of Test cricket.’’
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