Usman Khawaja century, takes shot at selectors

Khawaja’s century is the 14th of his Take a look at profession, however his first each in India and towards India.

Whereas the left-hander has toured India earlier than, in each 2013 and 2017, he was left on the sidelines in each collection, and he confirmed he’d not forgotten about it.

“There was a variety of emotion in that. I’ve been to India on two excursions earlier than this and carried the drinks in all eight Take a look at matches,” he mentioned at stumps.

“It was an extended journey making an attempt to get a 100 in India. As an Australian, that is what you need to do, what you need to tick off, so it’s totally particular.”

Khawaja took one other swipe in his press convention on the finish of day one, saying he “did not really feel just like the workforce actually supported me” when he was repeatedly dropped earlier in his profession, notably in Asia.

“Any time I received out to spin, folks had been like, ‘you’ll be able to’t play spin’. I in all probability began believing it myself,” he mentioned.

“I did not actually get the assist from the folks round me on the time. Did not really feel just like the workforce actually supported me, did not really feel just like the teaching employees and selectors actually supported me by way of that journey.

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“It simply made it so onerous. Whether or not I used to be or wasn’t – sure I am a greater participant of spin now, little doubt about that, I’ve extra pictures, higher defence – however I did not actually get the chance to be taught at that early stage.”

It appears inconceivable now that Australia would trot out a Take a look at XI wherever on the earth with out Khawaja on the high of the order, however that is precisely what occurred for greater than two years throughout what ought to’ve been the left-hander’s prime years.

Khawaja was dropped through the 2019 Ashes collection in England and didn’t make it again into the Take a look at aspect till the New 12 months’s Take a look at towards England in January 2022.

He marked his return to the Take a look at aspect with a pair of centuries and has recorded 4 extra within the 15 Assessments which have adopted, along with his common presently sitting at 69.53 since he was re-installed into Australia’s Take a look at aspect.

Khawaja has been identified for his flamboyant strokeplay all through his profession, however confirmed a grittier aspect to his recreation on day one, along with his century coming off 246 deliveries.

“It was such a pleasant wicket (and) I simply did not need to give my wicket away,” he mentioned.

“Loads of occasions I wished to hit them excessive, which is what I usually do within the subcontinent, however I simply thought immediately you are going to need to attempt to get me out.

“It was a psychological battle greater than something as a result of you must attempt to put your ego away. I wasn’t hanging very quick, so it was only a battle all day.

“Simply proceed the method, simply proceed doing it so long as you’ll be able to and maintain serving to the workforce out as a result of I knew the longer I batted, the higher it was for us.”

It was a weird opening to the Take a look at match because the gamers turned a digital sideshow with Australia and India’s prime ministers given a motorcade across the floor previous to the primary supply.

Khawaja revealed that he’d been one of many few to profit from the pre-game ceremony.

“I feel just a few of the opposite boys may’ve been a bit rattled,” he mentioned.

“I’ve received no superstitions (and) I do not actually have a lot construction to my warm-up, I am only a waft type of man, so for me it was fantastic.

“I simply went out the again, did just a few run-throughs, stretched after which made positive I used to be prepared for the sport when it began. I type of loved that warm-up, it is in all probability one of the best warm-up I’ve had.

“They (Australia’s coaches) all got here as much as me and instructed me this morning, ‘That is going to be the favorite warm-up of your life’, and I used to be like, ‘I feel you could be proper’.”

After seeing Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb all come and go, Khawaja discovered an ally in Inexperienced who put the Indian bowlers to the sword within the closing hour of play.

The 23-year-old arrived on the crease with Australia precariously positioned at 4-170 after Handscomb was bowled by Mohammed Shami, however brilliantly flipped the momentum again in Australia’s favour after the house aspect opted to take the second new ball.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma would’ve hoped the brand new ball would result in a breakthrough, however as a substitute noticed it disappear to all components as Australia piled on 54 runs within the closing 9 overs of the day.

”We did not say something to Greeny, he was simply seeing them like seaside balls and every part they had been placing on the market he was simply smacking,” Khawaja mentioned of the ultimate session counter assault.

“It wasn’t our intention. I used to be simply watching on the different finish and getting a single to let him on strike, however it was fairly good to observe.”

Play for day two will resume at 3pm on Friday afternoon, with Australia seeking to pile on an enormous first innings complete.

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