Usman Khawaja - Should he have a contract?

[Line and Length]

Many, including former captain Michael Clarke has been left staggered by Usman Khawaja’s snubbing from Cricket Australia’s 20-man central contract list.

There have been suggestions, after scenes in "The Test" were revealed, that a couple of his clashes with Justin Langer might have been a factor.

There is no doubt that his performances over the 2015 to 2019 period illustrate he has been a good servant in Test cricket. In that period he played 35 Tests scored 8 centuries and 12 fifties while averaging 44.8

Perhaps his performances against different nations might reveal a small problem. Against England he averages 29.9, India (28.3) and Sri Lanka (26.4) compared with his performances against New Zealand (72.6) and Pakistan (70.9). With only 2 innings against each of West Indies and Bangladesh it would be inappropriate to judge his averages (100.0 and 1.0).

The man himself feels he still has something to offer. Will he get a reprieve?

 

[Kraken]

Only way he ever gets back in the side is as an opener imo

 

[mr_mister]

He needs to learn to stop clashing with Langer if that documentary is anything to go by

learn to suck up and kiss butt Khawaja

 

[Flem274*]

he should quit while he's ahead. with some of the turgid nick he's experienced in test cricket the fact he still has 8 tons and an average of 40 is impressive. it's pretty staggering given he's been in and out of the side.

i'd consider him for the opener spot now that burns is struggling to score runs even at home. im leaning towards patterson getting a look at wades spot, because wade isn't much.

 

[cnerd123]

He's 33, could make some good money playing franchise cricket around the world, and definitely seems to enjoy being a freelancer more anyways - don't have to deal with the same coach day in and day out, figure out your own training.

He would do well to retire and focus on that, as cynical as that may seem.

 

[Gnske]

Probably, I'd rather have him as a backup opener than anyone else in the country.

He'll be back. Agree with ***** though oddly enough, he can either live with Langer's uber-nationalistic, spiritual white girl chakra theology or travel the world making big bucks while you can.

 

[Starfighter]

i'd consider him for the opener spot now that burns is struggling to score runs even at home. im leaning towards patterson getting a look at wades spot, because wade isn't much.

I'd like this.

 

[Adders]

He needs to learn to stop clashing with Langer if that documentary is anything to go by

learn to suck up and kiss butt Khawaja

WTF man....this is such a terrible take.

 

[mr_mister]

he has to submit and kiss the ring of Langer

grovel at his feet

 

[TheJediBrah]

He's 33, could make some good money playing franchise cricket around the world, and definitely seems to enjoy being a freelancer more anyways - don't have to deal with the same coach day in and day out, figure out your own training.

He would do well to retire and focus on that, as cynical as that may seem.

Not the worst suggestion. He's proven to be a pretty incredible franchise T20 player in the Big Bash. Not sure how it will translate to playing in Asia, and he would need to open. Can't see him being much use to an IPL/BPL/PSL side as a middle-order player.

 

[mr_mister]

WTF man....this is such a terrible take.

recently I saw you discussing online dating with trundler and you said 'you end up paying for it one way or another kid' or something like that in response to trundler scoffing at the idea of you having to pay for premium dating app features

and I thought damn Adders is woke he knows the reality of life, he ain't worried about looking cool

and since that post I actually stumbled upon the movie The Last Detail for the first time ever and was surprised to find that quote in the movie... then I thought damn Adders know the cold reality of life and knows good Nicholson movies

and here we are. You've gotta suck up to the boss! There's no room for rebels in the Australian test team!

 

[Gnske]

He has a point, sycophancy is the juice that sustains careers.

 

[mr_mister]

what do the kids call it again? being a simp? we're all simps sometimes in life there's no point pretending otherwise

 

[cnerd123]

There are a lot of other smaller, shadier franchise leagues he could get gigs at purely based on star power

 

[Burgey]

I don’t get why you all think he clashes with Langer. If that’s your idea of clashing with someone then I feel sorry for you guys because it’s probably the simpiest take I’ve ever heard on anything

 

[mr_mister]

tbqh i havent seen the documentary

 

[stephen]

He clashed with Langer. Langer is the kind of guy who doesn't really tolerate people talking back to him at all. There's a reason Khawaja said that the other players were all treading on eggshells around him.

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah I heard that from a mate but didn't know the extent of it or the specifics

Is there a way to watch this thing for free?

 

[Burgey]

That's just bollocks. What's your basis for saying that? He literally asks players and the other coaching staff for their opinions on things he's doing all the time ffs. And surrounds himself with blokes whose stature as players and icons of Australian cricket leave him for dead. You don't do that if you're as insecure as he's being portrayed here.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of his. Always called him the Brown Nosed Dwarf when he was playing under Waugh. But I don't think he deserves the characterization he's copping here at all tbh

 

[mr_mister]

He's certainly over patriotic though right? That's kinda lame