Veteran batter Usman Khawaja has been recalled to Australia’s 15-member squad for the first two Tests of the upcoming Ashes 2021-22 against England in Brisbane and Adelaide.
And the left-hander said he has got nothing to prove to anyone and aims to give his best in the Ashes series. 34-year-old Khawaja, who has played 44 Tests for Australia so far, hasn’t played a Test since being dropped during the 2019 Ashes.
But the Queensland captain’s stunning performances in the Sheffield Shield have earned him a recall to the Test side for the Ashes 2021-22.
He scored back-to-back centuries in the Sheffield Shield last month and is the leading run-scorer for the current season with 326 runs in three games at an average of 81.
Khawaja will fight for the middle-order spot with Travis Head, with Marcus Harris and David Warner confirmed as openers against England in the upcoming Ashes 2021-22 series, starting on December 8 in Brisbane.
The second Test will be played in Adelaide on December 16, followed by the third and fourth Tests on December 26 and January 5, respectively, with the final to be played on January 14 in Perth.
As reported by cricket.com.au, Khawaja said: “I've been on both sides of the spectrum: I've been in the Australian team, I've been dropped, I've had contracts, I haven't had contracts. I guess when you're a bit younger you hold onto those things more tightly. I've got nothing to prove to anyone -- not to myself, not to anyone else. I'm going out there to do the best I can for any team I'm in.”
He added, “I know I won't be able to play cricket forever, so I'm enjoying playing whatever level I'm playing. People will probably say, 'He's talking crap', but it's true -- I'm really just enjoying my cricket and my mindset won't change. I'm a big believer in fate; whatever is meant to happen, will happen.”
On his relationship with Australia head coach Justin Langer, Khawaja said: “My relationship with 'JL' (Langer) has always been great...I still talk to him, I still text him, we get along fine. So I always find that (speculation) a bit odd.”
He signed off by saying, “I've always been open and honest, I've never shied away from the truth. JL knows I'll always say everything to his face, and all my teammates know that, too.”
Australia's Ashes squad for first two Tests:
Tim Paine (C), Pat Cummins (VC), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
(With ANI Inputs)
