Khawaja reveals level of abuse aimed at Aussies as he goes in to bat for Warner

Crowd abuse and low cloud make life uncomfortable for Australian batters in hostile Ashes series.

Usman Khawaja speaks with opening partner David Warner at training. Picture: Getty Images.

Usman Khawaja defended David Warner and revealed the shocking levels of abuse received by Australian players during an Ashes series where tempers have spilt over among fans in the MCC pavilion and the outer.

Warner put in an extended session in the notorious Old Trafford nets as opening partner rated him among the all time great openers and backed him to succeed in the crucial fourth Test of the series which starts on Wednesday.

Following two first over dismissals at Headingley Warner risked fingers and more in the lively nets where Steve Smith was concussed and Shaun Marsh had his hands broken on recent visits.

“From my point of view Dave Warner has been one of the greatest openers of all time, it is him and Haydos (Matthew Hayden) right up there for Australia I reckon, the top two ever, so I will always back Davey no matter what and I think the other guys will too,” Khawaja said.

The pair have made three partnerships of 50 or more in difficult conditions in the first two Tests which got the side through difficult overhead conditions and built a platform for the middle order.

“It’s a thankless job like we go out there to start and got a really good start at Lord’s in heavy overhead conditions, I got out just last over before lunch but that sets up the game for us,” Khawaj said.

“I think an opener sometimes you don‘t always record your good days on how many runs you played, sometimes it’s just about just grinding through those tough times, which we did in that (Lord’s) Test match and then you’ve had three 50 run partnerships against Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad I mean that is as tough as it gets in England. You have to pay some respect to that.”

Khawaja was at the centre of the abusive behaviour from Lord’s members toward the Australians late in the Lord’s match and while he said he would leave it to the MCC to prosecute that matter he says crowd behaviour in England has been disappointing.

The MCC is investigating three suspended members and said it was ashamed of the mob behaviour.

The opener claims Travis Head was the subject of vile abuse in the first Test.

“If you talk about it to England guys, they say we are equally as rough when (they go to Australia),” he said. “I don‘t agree with it either way. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.

“Personally if I am coming to the cricket and watching the cricket, I wouldn‘t want my kids to be around that. If I saw that I would 100 per cent make a complaint or just leave.

“I think some of the stuff can be pretty poor. Over at Edgbaston they were calling Travis Head a C. U ... you know what. I‘m like I can’t believe you can actually say that in a public domain anywhere. It can be a little disappointing at times, and I think we can take it too far in Australia. The same thing happens in Australia. I’m not a big fan of it.

“I know watching a lot of sport and loving sport that it happens around the world. You watch the NBA it happens there. Particularly when crowds can get real close to you, which they can in cricket. It is what it is, I don‘t agree with it. I have been doing it my whole life, it doesn’t bother me. And if it doesn‘t, I will let them know.”

Khawaja, with 356 runs at an average of 59, is the leading run scorer in the series. which stands in Australia’s favour 2-1, but arrived with question marks over his ability to score in England where he has been dropped on two previous tours.

He was left out of the XI for the corresponding match in 2019 and admits he thought his Test career was over.

“Obviously coming back to Headingley, last time, tough times,” he said. “It was the toughest point of my career. I thought my career was pretty much over then.

“My wife was joking about it the other day. She was sitting up in a shopping mall at Leeds and she was saying last time I was here, it wasn‘t a good time. She was a part of it too. It was nice, it’s funny how things work out. You get to come back to England and actually play at Old Trafford this time. It’s a very different vibe. The team is in a different place. I am really now just enjoying it.

“If I look back the last two year’s the vibes been awesome, I’ve been loving it, there’s a lot of onus and respect and accountability on the players and players being the professionals we are we really leave no stone unturned as individuals so every time we go out there to play cricket we‘re ready, so we’ll be ready again.”