Usman Khawaja reflects glowingly on David Warner’s career as selectors weigh up his future
David Warner wants a farewell SCG Test. While the selectors decide whether that happens, Usman Khawaja chats ‘Davey’s’ remarkable stats and career.
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As selectors agonise over David Warner’s future, opening partner Usman Khawaja lauded the batsman’s “unique’’ Test career.
Warner’s future is the biggest selection issue of the summer following his declared wish to retire after a home SCG Test against Pakistan in January, the final match of a three Test series.
In making a call on Warner’s future, the selectors will weigh up Warner’s wish and his solid World Cup form against his declining Test returns and the need to give a new opener as much time as possible to adjust to Test match life before next summer’s bumper five Test series against India.
That Warner’s boyhood buddy Khawaja is a series by series proposition complicates the equation given Australia would want two settled openers by the Indian series.
Warner’s rivals for the spot, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw, will go head to head in a potentially decisive Gabba Sheffield Shield shootout between Queensland and Western Australia from Tuesday.
Khawaja declined to speculate on the likely outcome of the selectors’ discussions for next month’s fist Test in Perth but lauded Warner’s 109 Test career.
“I don’t know (who they will pick) – it’s the selectors call,’’ Khawaja said.
“I am not a selector. I focus on his career. What he has done throughout his career – average 45-50 at a strike rate of around 70 (74) opening the batting is pretty amazing.
“How many openers have done that? Even Matthew Hayden (60) did not strike at 70. People forget what he’s done. I don’t. I’m a cricket tragic.
“Even when he retires I will think ‘what an entertainer. How good was he to watch when he opened the batting?’
“He is unique. In Australia you had Slats (Michael Slater) who was aggressive for his time but even he did not strike it what Davey is striking at. You have to go back to (India’s) Virender Sehwag and (Sri Lanka’s Sanath) Jayasuriya.’’
Warner and Khawaja played junior cricket together and both men have enjoyed reuniting at Test level in their mid-30s.
“It’s pretty cool. We have been lifelong friends and I don’t think it will stop when we retire because we will probably go on Fox Cricket together and give our two cents worth and both love playing golf.’’
Khawaja feels Australia is well placed with options for the future with Bancroft, Renshaw and Marcus Harris waiting in the wings.
“Harris has been travelling with us for a long time and has been next in. Bancroft has batted beautifully over the last two or three years. Renners has done quite well over the last year.
“People should enjoy the fact we have three openers in contention.
“The Shield wickets we play on now are much harder than the ones I played on when I started. Way greener. They used to be beautiful.
“The SCG and Adelaide had no grass. Now you look at the wickets on the screen and you can’t see where there is no grass. Shield cricket is tough these days. Back in the day people used to score 1000 runs a season. You don’t see it much at all now.’’
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