Usman Khawaja an outside chance at history in Boxing Day Test

Usman Khawaja may achieve something stunning in Melbourne, but his chance at history probably says more about how a former giant has turned their back on Test cricket, writes Robert Craddock.

Usman Khawaja is on the verge of his most bizarre achievement of the year … out-batting an entire nation.

And a decent one too in South Africa.

If Khawaja bats until lunch in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan at the MCG, he will, in all likelihood, have faced more Test deliveries this year than the entire South African Test team.

Australia’s serene craftsman of the crease has faced 2689 balls and the South Africa team between them 2744 in a bizarre statistic spotted by Fox Sports’ Nic Savage.

South Africa will no doubt get Khawaja in the end.

Khawaja had has a dominant year at the crease. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP)

The Proteas play a Boxing Day Test at Centurion against India that starts just after Australia’s first day ends.

But the fact Khawaja may poke his nose in front of them in terms of balls faced earlier that day says two things – he has been in stunning form and South Africa has turned its back on the five-day game.

The Proteas, who are running low on finances and see white-ball cricket as their route to better days, have played just three Tests this year, one against Australia and two against the West Indies.

Australia, by contrast, has played 12, and Khawaja has scored 1168 runs at 55.

The Proteas’ wafer-thin Test diet is a miserable outcome for the five-day game because, despite all their recent shortcomings, at their best they are one of Australia’s greatest rivals and every faltering step they take is a torpedo midships for the future of Test cricket.

Khawaja remains an outside chance of outbatting the Proteas in 2023. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

Things are not scheduled to improve because South Africa has signed up to play just 28 Tests in cricket’s Future Tours Program from 2023-27.

Khawaja returned to Brisbane after Australia’s first Test victory to consider the next step in his support of victims of the Gaza war.

In Perth, he wore a black armband in support of his “All Lives Matter’’ Instagram post and so far there has been no sign that International Cricket Council match referee Javagal Srinath considered his actions out of order.

He was banned from wearing shoes with the same message on them but has vowed to approach the ICC to have them cleared for use.

Originally published as Usman Khawaja an outside chance at history in Boxing Day Test