Khawaja reacts to Warne's remark questioning his desire to play for Australia 

Warne had lauded the national selectors for dropping Khawaja from the Test squad.

Khawaja is currently playing domestic cricket for Queensland | Getty

Shane Warne's remark, "show how important playing for Australia is to him", hasn't gone down well with out of favour Usman Khawaja as the left-hand batsman bluntly directed the Aussie spin legend to his record across all forms of the game. 

Khawaja was dropped by Australia in the middle of the Ashes campaign in UK and hasn't played for the country since; focussing solely on the way back through domestic cricket for Queensland at the moment. 

Read Also: Sourav Ganguly responds to Shane Warne’s request for Team India to play day-night Test in Australia

"I don't think there's any need to answer that question," the 32-year-old was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "I'm a batsman, I'm a run scorer first and foremost so that's my currency, but if you look at my Shield record, you look at my one-day domestic record, my record for Australia, my BBL record, I score runs."

"That's all that matters. Not really [going to change my body language], I'm a pretty cool bloke. You either get it or you don't, that's the way it is."

Khawaja knows the best way to answer his critics would be with bat and by regaining that special baggy green. The southpaw further clarified he has no plans to retire anytime soon. "If I had, I would've retired," he said. "You always have the goal of playing at the highest level. I feel like I belong at international level, but I've got to score runs, and if I do that, the rest will take care of itself."

Warne has previously also criticised Khawaja. But this time, he lauded chief selector Trevor Hohns and head coach Justin Langer for dropping him. 

"Justin Langer and Trevor Hohns have done a good thing with Usman Khawaja," he said. "By leaving him out they have asked him to show how important Test cricket, and playing for Australia, is to him."

"Throughout his Test career, he always seems to do just enough. Sometimes you just want to shake him and get him to show a bit more."

"Different personalities make up the team and some people aren't as exuberant and emotional as others, but he can be better, particularly with his body language."

Khawaja has played 44 Tests and 40 ODIs for Australia so far. 

(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 25 Nov, 2019

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