Usman Khawaja revisits ‘homeworkgate’, says coach Mickey Arthur had obtained priorities fallacious | Cricket Information – Occasions of India

NAGPUR: Australian batter and one of many casualties of the notorious ‘homeworkgate’ saga throughout the 2013 collection in India, Usman Khawaja, has castigated the crew administration on that tour, saying “their priorities were a bit wrong”, and the facet was extra anxious about ticking containers than really doing nicely within the collection.
Following two heavy defeats to India at Chennai and Hyderabad, Khawaja was wanting ahead to his debut within the third Take a look at at Mohali when he was summoned for a gathering with then-captain Michael Clarke, coach Mickey Arthur and crew supervisor Gavin Dovey.
The Pakistan-born cricketer, then 26, together with three others — James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson — was suspended for one match for not submitting a ‘homework’ assigned by the coach.
The gamers had been assigned to provide in writing solutions to queries on methods to enhance the crew’s efficiency, and the 4 didn’t submit their replies in time.
Recalling the episode on the eve of the primary Take a look at at Nagpur, Khawaja stated, “Our priorities at the time were a bit wrong. We were more worried about the box-ticking stuff for players, rather than actually ‘hey, are we a skilful team’.”
The cricketer, who has since cemented his place within the Take a look at facet, stated it had left a bitter style in his mouth and he by no means needed to be part of the Australian dressing room.
With Khawaja set to play his first Take a look at in India after coming so shut in 2013, he says at that time limit, coach Arthur was making an attempt to prioritise every little thing apart from being higher rivals on the sphere.
“All the coaching and support staff with Mickey (Arthur) at the top were trying to concentrate on all the other things, but that wasn’t the reason we were losing,” Khawaja advised ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ on Wednesday.
He added that at the moment, India had been extra skilful than Australia, which is why the guests misplaced all 4 Checks within the collection.
“At that point, we weren’t a more skilful team than India, and that’s why we lost. We didn’t lose because we weren’t fitter than them, we didn’t lose because we weren’t a better fielding side than them, we were just not as skilful as they (India) were.”
Khawaja stated following the incident, the sensation he obtained contained in the dressing room was that he was an “outsider”.
“It was already tough enough for a new guy to fit in the team. And when something like this happens, it just made you feel like you were more of an outsider.”
Khawaja stated that he wasn’t certain he needed to be in the identical surroundings when he returned to the facet. However he has steeled himself ever since and emerged a much more stronger cricketer.
“When I came back, I really wasn’t sure whether I wanted to be in that environment again, because the environment wasn’t fun. But whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so you’re always better off for it at some level,” he added.
The prolific middle-order batter then promised himself he won’t let his happiness be dictated by the sport.
“I made a pact with myself that I refused to let my happiness in my life just be dictated by cricket. That early stage, 10 years ago almost now, I said back then I’m not going to let them dictate my happiness, there’s more to life than cricket.
“I’ll prepare, do every little thing I can to grow to be a greater participant, however ultimately the outcomes of the sport aren’t going to dictate whether or not I am completely satisfied or not. I feel that is the place it began.”