Ashes 2023: ‘I Thought His Time Was Practically Performed…,’ Says Gillespie For Usman Khawaja

Former Australia quick bowler Jason Gillespie admitted that he felt opener Usman Khawaja`s time was up a few years in the past and was delighted over being proved flawed by the left-hander`s 141 within the first Ashes Check towards England at Edgbaston.

On Saturday, Australia have been struggling after dropping David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith within the first session. However Khawaja led the cost for Australia, rebuilding the innings with an excellent 126 not out, his first Check hundred in England, whereas stitching essential partnerships of 81 and 72 with Head and Cameron Inexperienced to take the facet to 311/5 at stumps, trailing England by 82 runs.

On Sunday, Khawaja added 15 extra runs earlier than being castled by Ollie Robinson, ending a 321-ball knock laced with 14 fours and three sixes.

“A couple of years ago, I saw Usman Khawaja play for Queensland in a Sheffield Shield game when I was coaching South Australia. I remember saying: `I think he`s past it. I don`t think there`s much left`.

“I felt he was a bit sluggish and he was battling. I assumed his time was almost finished. Properly, he has actually proved me flawed and I’m delighted to confess it. You like it when gamers present they nonetheless have extra to provide,” wrote Gillespie in his column for Daily Mail on Sunday.

Gillespie, currently coaching South Australia in the domestic cricket circuit, also praised Khawaja for being a mainstay in the team since scoring 137 and 101 not out in his unexpected comeback Test match against England in the 2021/22 Ashes at Sydney.

“All of it goes again to that sliding doorways second in January 2022, when Travis Head caught Covid earlier than the fourth Ashes Check and Usman bought the chance and scored 100 in every innings. He wasn`t anticipating that probability and is now enjoying each recreation as if it`s his final, with a very clear thoughts.”

Gillespie additional talked about that Khawaja`s resurgence, which has seen him rating Check centuries in Australia, Pakistan, India, and England in latest instances, reminded of how former opener and head coach Justin Langer scored in the identical vein on being again within the facet for the longer format.

“It reminds me of the time Justin Langer replaced Michael Slater for the final Test of the Ashes in 2001. He thought he was in the last-chance saloon and so he had that attitude of, `I`m just going to make the most of this. I`m going to enjoy the battle, enjoy the challenge, just play and have fun`.”

“Justin went on to have one of the great careers with that attitude and mindset. And I see a lot of similarities between the situation Justin was in and where Usman finds himself now,” he concluded.