BY DAN
In case you missed it, last night Usman Khawaja belted his second Big Bash century in just four games this season, taking his average to 275 for the 2015-16 season. Add that to the fact that his recent form would make The Don jealous and it makes it odd that he’s been continually excluded from the national set up in the shorter forms of the game. So we put our thinking caps on and came up with 7 things Khawaja can do to get in the main game for the T20 world cup.
- Change His Name
Look, everyone knows the best way to get into the Australian team is to have the right name.
Preferably one starting in Mitchell or ending in Marsh. Changing his name to either Mitchell Khawaja or Usman Marsh would cement his place in the set-up of all three formats.
- Play for New South Wales
Usman did the right thing choosing to play for the Sydney Thunder. But if he really wants to get noticed by the national selectors, he has to turn out in that delightful sky-blue. Learn from Brad Hodge’s mistakes!
- Bowl 140km per hour. Or maybe leg spin.
The Australian selectors get all wobbly in the knees as soon as they see someone clocked at faster than 140km an hour. Usman can you fling it fast? It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t go straight. Just ask Shaun Tait!
Alternatively, Khawaja could bowl some leg-spin. There’s a long list of leg-spinners that Australian selectors have fallen in love with. Dye your hair blond and give it a rip young man. That’ll get you a spot.
- Reverse sweep more
If there’s one thing I’d criticise Usman for, it’s the distinct lack of reverse sweeping. Sure he belted New Zealand all over the Gabba and the WACA. Sure he dispatched the Strikers to all parts of the Adelaide Oval. But did he reverse sweep? Australian’s are meant to be entertainers Usman!
- Be more antagonistic
Another thing Australian’s are great at is annoying the opposition. From Ponsford to Punter, Australian’s love getting under the skin of the opposition. Unfortunately for him, Khawaja just seems more focused on scoring runs than sledging.
Look Usman, David Warner is a primo sledger and he’s vice-captain! Take a hint!
- Get a more realistic average.
Seriously 275 in the Big Bash League this year? No one believes that. You can almost see Mark Waugh bring it up at a selectors meeting, only to be shouted down by Hohns and Marsh.
“No one averages that much! You sure it’s not 27.5?”
- Score more runs
Failing all these, Khawaja could always just keep on scoring runs. After all, Mark Waugh has said the World T20 team will be selected on T20 form.
Just don’t tell Michael Klinger that.
The Sportress 