Veteran batter Usman Khawaja has got the backing of Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith after his superlative double century in the first Test against Sri Lanka. Steve Smith wants Usman Khawaja to open in the highly anticipated Ashes series against England. Khawaja’s maiden double ton in the longest format helped Australia thrash Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the first Test. Khawaja, who had previously struggled with form during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, made a stunning return to form in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Khawaja’s maiden Test double century propelled Australia to resounding win over Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the series opener. Following the match, Smith commended the 38-year-old star batter for his consistent and resilient performances, defying his age. Smith said that Khawaja’s recent double century has firmly cemented his place for the upcoming Ashes series.
“He’s still batting exceptionally well and age is only a number…He’s still doing everything right, he’s catching well in the slips, he’s a senior figure. He’s batting really well. I’m not a selector, but I’m sure as long as he wants to play then I’m happy with him there for sure,” Smith said after the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Smith further elaborated on Khawaja’s previous struggles during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. He pointed out that facing bowlers of Jasprit Bumrah’s caliber represents one of the toughest challenges a Test batsman can encounter. Smith suggested that this difficult opposition was a key factor contributing to Khawaja’s dip in form during that particular series.
“Batting at the top of the order at the moment, particularly in Australia, is as hard as I’ve seen in my career. The amount of seam movement, and you throw into that he’s facing Jasprit Bumrah throughout the summer with a brand-new ball, fresh every time. There’s probably not a much bigger threat in world cricket at the moment or almost ever,” he added.
Usman Khawaja’s double century may have been the highlight, but Steven Smith also played a crucial role in Australia’s dominant victory. Stepping in as captain for the absent Pat Cummins, Smith contributed a vital 141 runs off 251 balls. This innings not only marked a personal milestone, surpassing the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket, but also showcased his leadership and batting prowess, guiding Australia to a commanding performance against Sri Lanka.
