Usman Khawaja and David Warner to call on 30-years of mateship in Fox Cricket commentary
Usman Khawaja and David Warner first started mucking around as Kindergarten kids and now they’ll call on all 30 years of their friendship in the commentary box.
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When they were six years old, Usman Khawaja used to be the man cleaning up for David Warner whenever he missed a grab in classic catches.
All these years later, Warner can see it all happening again in the commentary box.
“Uzzie is obviously very intelligent and he might keep me grounded a little bit with some of the (loose) comments I might make,” Warner told this masthead after Khawaja joined him in signing on as Fox Cricket commentator when their Test careers come to a close.
Khawaja and Warner first started mucking around together as Kindergarten kids, with their brothers in the same eastern Sydney representative cricket team, and now a 30-year partnership that has carried them from the junior ranks to Test cricket will continue beyond their playing years.
No one understands Warner quite like Khawaja.
“We used to go to Waverly Park and watch our brothers play, and then smack the ball against the fence and we’d do classic catches,” Khawaja said.
“Davey was always at the front diving everywhere and I’d be the guy at the back if he missed one I’d clean it up.
“We’ve known each other for a very long time so it’s been pretty cool.
“We have some pretty good banter. We sat at the front of the bus the whole Ashes and there are some pretty funny conversations that go on at the front of the bus.
“We’ve grown up together. He knows I have a lot of care and a lot of love for him, so if I do say anything to him, if I’m serious about it, he knows it’s coming from a good place.
“Davey, I’ve found, is one of the most loyal people you’ll ever meet.”
Khawaja’s deal with Fox Cricket will start during the upcoming ODI World Cup as an analyst, but will become full-time after he retires from Test cricket.
Warner and Khawaja will turn 37 before the start of this Test summer, and while Warner is hoping to play three final Tests to bow out at the SCG against Pakistan … there is no end date in sight for Khawaja who hopes to continue driving his hot run-scoring form for as long as he can.
The top Ashes run-scorer is primed to play a key role helping break in Warner’s ultimate opening replacement and ensuring Australia don’t lose two Test opening greats at the same time.
“We haven’t spoken about it, but I know Uzzie, he had a two-year window where he was out of the game and he’s just really enjoying his cricket now,” Warner said.
“I know how hard Uzzie has worked and to be where he is now and seeing the smile on his face and doing really well, there’s no reason for him to let that pass now. He can just keep enjoying it until he wants to finish.”
Khawaja has become one of the most significant cricketers of recent generations, not only for his outstanding Test record, but for the leader and inspiration he is for aspiring multicultural cricketers.
Warner believes that will continue in the commentary box.
“Yes, very much so. He can relate to the kids coming through and he can give that understanding of what it’s like to grow up living the life he had and getting to where he did and how hard he had to work,” Warner said.
“You can be born overseas and come to Australia like Uzzie has, and you can represent Australia.
“He’s elaborated on that quite a bit through his career to date, on how he was sometimes treated, and people not understanding the way he trains and the way he does things. I think that will hold other kids coming through in good stead having Uzzie to look up to.”
It is a role Khawaja takes seriously and hopes he can continue broadcasting to millions of cricket fans.
“Cricket has been such a predominantly white game in the past … (but) Australian cricket is slowly changing. It takes time but seeing is believing and seeing my face for the Australian cricket team is a big thing, and hopefully seeing my face in the future talking about the game,” Khawaja said.
Commentary coup: Khawaja launches new career
Even before they’re broken up they’re back together – with Usman Khawaja signing on with Fox Cricket to launch a commentary career alongside lifelong friend David Warner.
While Warner has signaled the Sydney Test against Pakistan this summer will be his last, his Australian opening batting partner Khawaja is yet to indicate how much longer he intends to continue in the baggy green after starring with the bat during the recent Ashes.
Both men will turn 37 before the start of the Test summer, but even in retirement will continue a partnership that started when they were children playing club cricket together in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Khawaja is one of cricket’s most forthright and articulate players and will now take that into the Fox commentary box, starting with an analysis role during the upcoming ODI World Cup.
“I love cricket and I love analysing the game,” Khawaja said.
“I have always wanted to stay part of the game when I finish up playing, and commentating just seemed the perfect fit.
“I’ve always enjoyed Fox Cricket’s coverage. Fox Sports was the first thing I’d put on in the morning as a kid, so the affiliation with the company was a bit more sentimental for me.
“On top of that, working alongside a world-class commentary team and my mate Dave Warner is something that really excites me and I can’t wait.”
Warner was announced as a star signing for Fox Cricket earlier this year when the network won back cricket’s television rights.
Khawaja will certainly play out this Test summer, but his future plans beyond that remain unclear.
Australia may be desperate for him to continue for at least another 12 months, to help ease Warner’s replacement at the top of the order into the job and not lose both experienced heads at the same time.
Khawaja will start full-time with Fox at the conclusion of his Test career, whenever that may be.
“Usman is one of the most respected and resilient cricketers in the world,” Fox Sports Executive Director, Steve Crawley said.
“He has an opinion and he’s not afraid to share it.
“Having him and David Warner continue their partnership in our commentary box will be a great win for fans.”
Fox’s World Cup coverage starting in October will feature studio analysis from Brendon Julian, Mark Waugh, Kerry O’Keeffe, Brad Haddin and Khawaja, as well as Michael Vaughan, Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram, Harsha Bhogle and Ian Smith who will be reporting from on the ground in India.
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Originally published as Usman Khawaja and David Warner to call on 30-years of mateship in Fox Cricket commentary
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