Ashes News: Usman Khawaja not concerned about team selection for Hobart Test

Usman Khawaja made a grand return to the Australian Test team after a gap of two years. In his home ground of Sydney, Khawaja put in a fantastic performance that stole the show against England on day 4. After already making 137 in the first innings, Khawaja scored 101* to give Australia the upper hand on day 4 of the fourth Test against England.

Khawaja thus joined Warren Bardsley, Steve Waugh, Steve Smith and Matthew Hayden as the other individuals who have scored twin tons in the Ashes contest by an Australian. But, the feeling is that this special effort might not guarantee him a spot in the Hobart Test beginning on January 14. Travis Head, who missed the Sydney Test due to the coronavirus pandemic, might return for the fifth and final Test. But, Khawaja is not looking ahead to those things and states he is wanting to enjoy the moment that has not sunk in yet.

“I don’t think it has sunk in. I’ve always wanted to score a century in both innings in first-class cricket and never done it. I wasn’t really sure if I was gonna do it. It didn’t really matter to me, now that I’ve played so long. I’m like it’s not the end of the world. Not a big deal, but it’s just a nice tick-off and has put the team in a situation where hopefully we can try to win. Look, it all worked out pretty well. it doesn’t always happen in life and cricket. It’s special,” Khawaja said.

Australia will have to toil hard for Ashes win

The wicket in Sydney has been traditionally flat with little assistance for the bowlers on all days. With 98 overs scheduled for the final day in the Sydney Ashes Test and with rain potentially staying away, England has a chance to chase down 387. They have chased down a total in excess of 350 only once. That feat was achieved in Headingley in 2019 thanks to the efforts of Ben Stokes. Khawaja admits that Australia will have to work incredibly hard for the win.

Read – I am living the Australian dream – Usman Khawaja

“It’s interesting. There’s the odd spot there, which is horrible. It’s just taking off and smacking you. It’s only here and there, and you hope you can get out of the way of it or hit the gloves or something. It will be interesting to see how tomorrow plays out. Fingers-crossed, we get some good weather because we probably need all those 98 overs that we have. It’s going to be a bit of a grind, but I think if we can keep on that grind for long enough and just keep asking questions over and over and over again. I think we’re in with a chance. I’d be surprised if they don’t try to go for the total,” Khawaja said.

The total was set up thanks to Khawaja’s ton and his stand of 179 with Cameron Green. The left-hander heaped praise on Green for the way how he has gone about his Test career so far. “Greeny scores so many runs against Queensland, I hate playing against him in Shield cricket. Green is an absolute weapon, he’s a gun of a batsman. It’s not easy… Test cricket is tough work. And look, he’s batting really well this year. He scored a few hundreds to start in Shield cricket,” Khawaja said.