Eventually, every long-term cricketer comes to a crossroad in their career where love meets reality. At 38 years of age, Usman Khawaja is firmly planted at this crossroads, having listened to the whispers of retirement, folded them up, and placed them on a shelf; he’s far from done or will be until he decides so.
Yet the mood has shifted. Since the Ashes last year, Khawaja has crossed fifty only four times in 35 innings. Fast bowlers are targeting him differently, and with pace threats like Mark Wood and Jofra Archer looming, the question isn’t whether Usman Khawaja’s legacy is secure; it is, but whether his present still matches his past. The selectors insist the faith is still there. But faith can fade quickly in an Ashes summer.
Rethinking the Second Coming
Khawaja’s 2022 Test comeback felt like a correction from the cricket gods for an injustice years past, when years of consistent Sheffield Shield success were ignored until fate intervened through a Travis Head positive Covid test, creating a window. By the time Khawaja had scored two hundreds, he wasn’t merely revived; he was un-droppable.
Between 2022–23, Khawaja has been easily Australia’s most consistent Test batsman in terms of run production. Khawaja won battles on Pakistan’s slow pitches, achieved a career best at the SCG, and then took on India’s spinning tracks. Then he was the only Test batsman to score more runs than all other batsmen in the 2023 Ashes. This level of performance changed how everyone saw him as a Test player – from a middle-order stylist to one of the world’s better openers.
A Sharp Decline or Tough Conditions?
The difficult section begins now. In the wake of the 2023 Ashes, Khawaja’s average has dropped to a low of 32.78. While that is far from disastrous, it certainly is very far from what Australia would expect as consistent and stable form from its top opening batsman. Therefore, with other players such as Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh having been dropped with less impressive results than Khawaja’s own performances, he is likely to be under even greater scrutiny.
Khawaja argues the pitches have been brutal, and he’s right. Travis Head, one of Australia’s best pressure players, sits only one century ahead of him in the same timeframe despite averaging just 34.16.
Fast Bowlers Have Found a Crack
There’s a clear tactical trend: bowlers have relentlessly attacked Khawaja from around the wicket. Over the last two years, he’s been dismissed 19 times from that angle, averaging 19.47. That’s not a blip, that’s a pattern. It’s the kind of pattern opponents plan entire series around.
And while Jasprit Bumrah did most of the headline damage, six dismissals at 5.66, other pacers have joined the party: Matt Henry, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammed Siraj have all removed him multiple times. Kagiso Rabada needed just 28 deliveries to dismiss him twice in the WTC final.
Shield Dominance vs Test Reality
In support of Khawaja, Selectors reference his Shield statistics correctly. Only one opening batsman has an average greater than 50 domestically in the last 2 years, Weatherald, and Kellaway being the only others above 38. So, this is not a queue, it is a small party.
A relevant example of how success at the domestic level does not necessarily translate into Test success can be found with Ricky Ponting. In the 2012-13 season, Ponting was the top run scorer in the Shield (911 runs, 75.91), yet had trouble in Test cricket that season as well.
Ponting’s final image on all fours at Adelaide after slipping and being bowled remains cricket’s harsh reminder: the end often arrives faster than expected.
Key Takeaway
Khawaja’s future hinges not on sentiment or past glory, but on whether he can outthink the fast bowlers who’ve finally found a weak spot.
FAQs
- What is the main concern about Khawaja’s current form?
Fast bowlers targeting him from around the wicket have exposed a consistent vulnerability.
- Why are selectors still backing him?
His Shield form remains outstanding, and his experience is considered vital for an Ashes series.
- How long can Khawaja realistically continue?
As long as he scores enough in early Ashes Tests, if he doesn’t, selectors may have no choice but to act.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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