Usman Khawaja Revisits ‘Homeworkgate’, Says Coach Mickey Arthur Had Received Priorities Fallacious | Cricket Information

Australian batter and one of many casualties of the notorious ‘homeworkgate’ saga in the course of the 2013 collection in India, Usman Khawaja, has castigated the workforce administration on that tour, saying “their priorities were a bit wrong”, and the facet was extra anxious about ticking bins than truly doing nicely within the collection. Following two heavy defeats to India at Chennai and Hyderabad, Khawaja was trying 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 workforce 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 have been assigned to offer in writing solutions to queries on methods to enhance the workforce’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 wished 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 cut-off date, coach Arthur was attempting to prioritise every little thing aside 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 informed ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ on Wednesday.

He added that at the moment, India have 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 wished to be in the identical setting 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 is not going to 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 will practice, do every little thing I can to turn out to be a greater participant, however in the long run the outcomes of the sport aren’t going to dictate whether or not I am comfortable or not. I feel that is the place it began.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Featured Video Of The Day

“Fairly Cool To Get A Want From Sachin Tendulkar”: Sania Mirza To NDTV