Usman Khawaja and his Rachel are about to become television rivals
Usman Khawaja’s wife Rachel has been poached by a rival TV network to her husband for some roaming reporting during the summer of cricket.
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Usman Khawaja and his wife Rachel are about to become television rivals this summer.
In an unusual scenario, the Australian Test opener is signed to Fox Cricket long-term, but Channel 7 has pounced on Rachel Khawaja and will use her as a roaming reporter to bring colour from the Test matches and connect viewers with the players’ families.
It’s not the first family to go in different directions on the TV dial, with echoes of rugby league brothers Matthew and Andrew Johns working for Fox League and Channel 9 respectively, and Jessica Rowe and husband Peter Overton who used to go up against each other at rival free-to-air networks.
The Khawajas aren’t even the only cricketing couple opting for different microphones this summer, with Channel 7 also announcing the signing of fast bowler Mitchell Starc, despite his wife Alyssa Healy being a rising star of the Fox Cricket commentary team over recent summers.
Highly-touted new talent Usman Khawaja will become a full-time member of Fox Cricket’s commentary team once he retires from Test cricket, but has already started appearing in the coverage when it fits in with his playing schedule.
Khawaja was also chased by Channel 7, before inking his deal with Fox.
Channel 7 announced on Thursday that former World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch will join the network’s Test and Big Bash coverage alongside Test great Ricky Ponting who has signed a long-term deal, and Rachel Khawaja.
“Adding Rachel Khawaja to the mix further allows us to connect viewers at home to the families and friends of our adored Australian players,” Seven’s head of cricket, Joel Starcevic.
“We cannot wait to see her deliver all the colour and excitement from the stadium during the Border-Gavaskar trophy.”
In same summer that Fox Cricket will unleash new commentary star David Warner following his international retirement, Seven will utilise his long-term opening partner Finch, as well as Starc as a commentator on the Australian women’s team.
Finch commentated on the ICC’s coverage of the recent ODI and T20 World Cups and said he has not found it challenging passing judgement on players he has played alongside his entire career.
“No I haven’t because everything that you talk about during a game is based on what you think at the time,” Finch said.
“I was always really comfortable as a player with somebody commenting on a poor shot. I know it’s a poor shot. If you played a bad shot, or a bad innings, or tactically as a captain I was ever slightly off – that’s part of the game.
“I was never offended by it. Nothing is ever personal in that regard. You’re just commenting on what you’re seeing at the time.”
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