Australian batting sensation Usman Khawaja is having a tremendous time with the bat since the beginning of 2022. He was the third-highest run-getter in the last year, having scored 1080 runs in 11 matches at an outstanding average of 67.50, including 4 hundreds and 5 half-centuries.
The left-handed opening batter continued his rich form in the current year as well. He has already scored 528 runs in five games at a jaw-dropping average of 75.82 with two centuries and as many fifties. Khawaja will soon be seen in action in the Ashes 2023, starting June 16 in Birmingham.
Before the battle against England, the Aussies will face India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Meanwhile, Khawaja has revealed that playing in the English conditions is worth challenging and termed it as the toughest place to bat for the top three batters. The analysis by the Australian cricketer is quite accurate. Since 2013, the top three batters have maintained an average of 31.98 in Test matches played in England, compared to 39.51 on Australian soil and 35.41 in India.
“England is, in my opinion, the toughest place in the world to bat for a top three batsman, plain and simple. New ball is tough work, but then you get some (weather) conditions, and it’s a bit of luck involved in it, too; sometimes you get the other team out, then suddenly the clouds roll over… other times you’re out there and it’s nice and sunny,” said Khawaja as quoted by cricket.com.au.
“If I’ve learned anything, it’s work hard, train hard, (and) if you’re going to England, go with low expectations, and then just work on every game one at a time, because you are going to fail as a batsman. But when you do score, you try to cash in as much as you can,” he added.
Notably, Khawaja had disappointing performances during his tours to England in 2013 and 2019, scoring only 236 runs in six Tests with an average of 19.66. He was subsequently dropped during the 2019 Ashes series and remained out of the team for almost three years.
