Arthur backs Khawaja to come good in Tests
Australian coach Mickey Arthur feels young batsman Usman Khawaja has the technique and ability to succeed in Test cricket.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: December 17, 2011 07:47 PM IST
Australian coach Mickey Arthur feels young batsman Usman Khawaja has the technique and ability to succeed in Test cricket.
Khawaja has been seen as a potential to replace former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in the No.3 slot. But the 25-year-old Khawaja has failed to impress the selectors managing just one half-century from his first 11 Test innings.
The classy Blues batsman is set to be retained for the Boxing Day Test against India but is feeling the heat from Shaun Marsh. Since his Test debut against England in January, Khawaja has managed 263 runs from six Tests with one 50.
Arthur has been impressed by Khawaja's attitude and believes he will be a Test match force after few adjustments to his game.
"Test cricket is pressure, wherever you play you will always be under pressure. I think he's a really good young player, he has a solid technique, defends really well," Arthur was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.
"There's one or two things we need to work on but he has the potential to develop into something really good," he said.
Khawaja admitted that Test cricket has been challenging, but he remains determined to succeed at first drop.
"I do enjoy batting No.3. It's probably a long-term goal for me. I haven't put up a big total yet and Test cricket is obviously a massive step up. But I am happy where I am right now. I can't control anything else, selectors and everything else is not in my hands, so I'm not even going to bother with it," he said.