The much-awaited documentary about the Australian cricket team, ‘The Test’, has shown that there was a heated argument between Usman Khawaja and coach Justin Langer before the Test series against Pakistan in Dubai.
Australia’s redemption journey after ball-tampering scandal will be seen in a documentary in 2020
Justin Langer took over the Australian coaching job at a difficult time when the Aussies were struggling in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal.
He addressed the fact that the Australian batting line-up was collapsing time and time again and thus wanted the batsmen to see to it that they remain not out while batting in the nets. This did not go down well with the left-handed opener Usman Khawaja and he had an argument with Langer.
This happened after Langer asked his players about honest feedback after the nets session and Khawaja was the first one to speak. He spoke without sugarcoating anything.
Here is the conversation:
Usman Khawaja: I think we were more worried about getting out than actually trying to execute better and execute well.
Justin Langer (getting angry): Yeah well what happens when you get out in a game?
UK: If I'm getting out two times in the nets, I know I'm getting out two times in the nets. I'm playing f***ing Test cricket here.
JL: Well what are you worried about?
UK: I'm worried about harping too much on negatives
JL: Well don't get out. What we are saying, is we're not going to accept you getting out, because, for the last 20 times in Australian cricket, we've had 20 batting collapses. 20 f***ing batting collapses. We've got to get better at it.
Later, Langer spoke to the cameras and revealed another side of Khawaja and how he believes in himself and can give good results if treated with respect.
He said, “I love Uzzie, he's got his own mind, he's strong in his beliefs, and if you treat him with respect you usually get your best results.”
Khawaja told the crew, “If the coach tells me to do something I'm the kind of guy who pushes back. You don't tell me what to do. That's not saying I'm not a team player, I do what the team needs me to do. I always put the team first, what I think the team needs, but my motivation comes from me. You can't force someone to do something they don't want to do.”
Ironic? Yeah, maybe.
