Khawaja's day of ups and downs
Plays of the day from the tri-series match between Australia and West Indies in St Kitts
Daniel Brettig
14-Jun-2016
Next time, Usman Khawaja may chance a dive • AFP
The bounce
Taking guard to face his first ball from Jason Holder in the opening over, Aaron Finch's mind was probably on making a sensible start and then sizing up Warner Park's invitingly short straight boundaries. He may also have thought a little about how to tackle spin on what looked a dry surface. But the very last thing Finch could have thought about was to get on the back foot in Australian fashion to counter sharp bounce with the new ball. So it was that when Holder charged in and landed the new ball on the seam, he found enough lift and movement to have a forward-pressing Finch edging from near enough the shoulder of the bat to slip. It was a brief replay of countless Australian dismissals against West Indies … in Perth circa 1988.
Taking guard to face his first ball from Jason Holder in the opening over, Aaron Finch's mind was probably on making a sensible start and then sizing up Warner Park's invitingly short straight boundaries. He may also have thought a little about how to tackle spin on what looked a dry surface. But the very last thing Finch could have thought about was to get on the back foot in Australian fashion to counter sharp bounce with the new ball. So it was that when Holder charged in and landed the new ball on the seam, he found enough lift and movement to have a forward-pressing Finch edging from near enough the shoulder of the bat to slip. It was a brief replay of countless Australian dismissals against West Indies … in Perth circa 1988.
The overdrive
Usman Khawaja's stand with Steven Smith followed unusual rhythms, as they responded to the early wicket, punched the odd boundary while defending good bowling, and seemingly waited for a moment to take the game away from the hosts. It appeared that a discussion following the end of the 24th over brought this about, as a flurry of boundaries reaped 36 runs in the next three overs. Most observers expected Khawaja and Smith to go on from there in similar vein, much as Australia were often able to do during last year's World Cup. But the quirks of the pitch and the skill of Holder in delivering a tight spell meant that this passage was the exception rather than the rule.
Usman Khawaja's stand with Steven Smith followed unusual rhythms, as they responded to the early wicket, punched the odd boundary while defending good bowling, and seemingly waited for a moment to take the game away from the hosts. It appeared that a discussion following the end of the 24th over brought this about, as a flurry of boundaries reaped 36 runs in the next three overs. Most observers expected Khawaja and Smith to go on from there in similar vein, much as Australia were often able to do during last year's World Cup. But the quirks of the pitch and the skill of Holder in delivering a tight spell meant that this passage was the exception rather than the rule.
The falling short
By the end of the 31st over, Khawaja had 86 from 97 balls. He seemed set to cruise to a century much as he had done while carving out no fewer than five hundreds for Australia's Test team last summer. However he became bogged down as the milestone drew nearer, eventually reaching 98 from 123 deliveries. Whether that slowdown convinced him he needed to push for a third run when George Bailey angled a reverse sweep to third man only he knows, but the decision exposed one deficiency in his languid game - he is not the fastest between the wickets. A mediocre throw would have saved Khawaja, but Jerome Taylor's throw was flat and the substitute wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher's take was quicksilver. Next time around Khawaja may chance a dive.
By the end of the 31st over, Khawaja had 86 from 97 balls. He seemed set to cruise to a century much as he had done while carving out no fewer than five hundreds for Australia's Test team last summer. However he became bogged down as the milestone drew nearer, eventually reaching 98 from 123 deliveries. Whether that slowdown convinced him he needed to push for a third run when George Bailey angled a reverse sweep to third man only he knows, but the decision exposed one deficiency in his languid game - he is not the fastest between the wickets. A mediocre throw would have saved Khawaja, but Jerome Taylor's throw was flat and the substitute wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher's take was quicksilver. Next time around Khawaja may chance a dive.
The dropouts
As the bats of Fletcher and Johnson Charles flailed early on in the West Indies chase, there was always the likelihood of chances being offered. Unfortunately for Khawaja he was to be the man to spurn catches from both. First up, Fletcher shovelled Nathan Coulter-Nile to mid-on, where Khawaja lost balance and failed to clasp a chance low to the ground. West Indies had advanced to 59 for 0 by the time the next chance came, this time Charles lofting James Faulkner down the ground and watching as Khawaja misjudged the flight and failed to get a finger on it. In the last meeting between these teams David Warner was at long-on to accept a similarly high chance - Khawaja may need to have a look at his fellow left-hander's buzzing energy in the field as a pointer to his future.
As the bats of Fletcher and Johnson Charles flailed early on in the West Indies chase, there was always the likelihood of chances being offered. Unfortunately for Khawaja he was to be the man to spurn catches from both. First up, Fletcher shovelled Nathan Coulter-Nile to mid-on, where Khawaja lost balance and failed to clasp a chance low to the ground. West Indies had advanced to 59 for 0 by the time the next chance came, this time Charles lofting James Faulkner down the ground and watching as Khawaja misjudged the flight and failed to get a finger on it. In the last meeting between these teams David Warner was at long-on to accept a similarly high chance - Khawaja may need to have a look at his fellow left-hander's buzzing energy in the field as a pointer to his future.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig