IND v AUS 2023: “Every time his back is against the wall…” Usman Khawaja defends under-fire David Warner

Warner is struggling for runs in the ongoing Test tour of India.

By Salman Anjum - 18 Feb, 2023

Usman Khawaja on Friday (February 17) came out in the defence of his opening partner David Warner, who is struggling in the ongoing Test tour of India.

Warner has registered scores of 1, 10 and 15 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy so far with Mohammad Shami getting him twice with fuller-length deliveries angling in.

“I have to kind of disagree with what you're saying. He hit two fours of Ashwin in the last game before he got out lbw so he was showing some aggression,” Khawaja said after the first day’s play in the ongoing second Test in Delhi.

“It's never easy out there, especially starting out, even if you're opening starting out there is never easy so I was lucky today. I got a couple (of boundaries) to get me going.

“Sometimes you don't get that and it can be very hard. So yeah, three innings is not enough for me. There's still a long way to go in this Test series. I'm looking forward to what may happen.”

Khawaja, who top scored with 81 in Australia’s first innings in Delhi, is fairly confident that Warner will bounce back soon.

“Davey has been such a terrific player for such a long time. Every time his back is against the wall he produces something so we'll see.”

David Warner became a bit “weary” after being hit on the head by a Mohammed Siraj bouncer on Day 1 of the second Test. The southpaw didn’t come out to take the field during India’s innings in the final session.

“I think the medical staff will have to assess tomorrow. He is a little bit weary at the moment. He obviously got a knock to the arm and then to the head and the head has made him a little bit weary and hence why he didn't come out to field.

“I think the medical staff will have to figure out what happens from here on in,” Khawaja said.

Peter Handscomb also slammed a half-century (72*) for Australia as the visitors posted 263 in their first innings.

“I don't know a par score until India bats on it. I feel like 260 is pretty good but we are going to have to wait and see tomorrow what India gets,” Khawaja said.

The opener is hopeful that the spin troika of Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann will exploit the conditions to the fullest at Kotla.

“They're very good in their own conditions. I think now we have three spinners in the team, especially on that wicket, is going to be challenging, just like their spinners were very challenging."

Having spent quite a bit of time in the middle, Usman Khawaja pointed out that the surface has an “up and down” feel to it.

“There are cracks running through the surface. The cracks are not stable. They are hitting those cracks. On top of that, Shami and Siraj are very good bowlers. You expect them to get something with the new ball. And when it is reversing, they are also very good.”

(With PTI Inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 18 Feb, 2023

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