Pakistan-born Aussie cricketer whose highest Test score on the sub-continent is 26, makes huge claims on a day when the visitors were made to follow-on by a young India ufffdA ufffd team
Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has played six Tests without being a certainty. His highest score in two Tests in the sub-continent (in Sri Lanka) is 26. Yet, that did not prevent him from indulging in tall talk after Australia’s tour game against India ‘A’ ended in a draw here yesterday.
Usman Khawaja. Pic/Getty Images
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And yes, it was a day when Australia suffered the ignominy of following on after succumbing to the spin duo of Rakesh Dhruv and Jalaj Saxena. With due credit to the tweakers’ skill, these men are fairly unknown. Khawaja perished in the first innings for one courtesy Saxena and was unbeaten on 30 in the second dig.
“We’ve had enough practice and we are as ready as we are ever going to be. The Indian spinners have a lot of pressure on them too because if it is a turning wicket, they will be expected to take wickets. We’re in India where the ball turns,” Khawaja told reporters.
It was a day when the Australians were in a fix against the spinners and it would take a great effort to get runs against the likes of Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin in the four-Test series which kicks off at the Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
Dhruv had figures of five for 51 while Saxena claimed four for 61 to dismiss Australia for 235 in their first innings in reply to India ‘A’s 451. The Australians ended the match on 195 for three.
Khawaja added: “We’ve actually said that spin plays a big part in India, but it’s not the only thing that plays a big part in India. They’ve got some good pace bowlers too, who can use the new ball and use the old reversing ball really well too.”u00a0
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