CRICKET:TWO BRAND new baggy greens were handed out an hour before play, amid much back-slapping. One went to Usman Khawaja, the other to Michael Beer, and it is pretty certain which one will wear out more quickly.
This may be grossly unfair upon Beer, the St Kilda left-arm spinner who has taken up residence in Perth in pursuit of first-class cricket. If he does prove to be a world-beater then there will some red-faced selectors in Victoria, however, as well as with the odd cricket correspondent.
By contrast, Khawaja’s passage to the Test team has been coming for a couple of years. During that time his background has been a source of excitement; the excellence of his batting may soon take over. For any debutant, the waiting is the worst part. It may have been a long 40 minutes for lunch but he knew exactly when the ordeal would begin and there was time to pop out to the nets for a few sighters.
Whatever he did worked. Khawaja raced out ready for action, more ready than Chris Tremlett. His first delivery was all too hospitable as it landed just short of a length and around leg stump. Khawaja clipped it through midwicket for two. The next was nearer off-stump and shorter. Khawaja pulled it majestically through the leg-side.
More interesting to a nation craving a batting saviour, there was an apparent calmness in his demeanour. After eight balls he had 15. For a while every time bat hit ball runs were scurried.
But this is not really Khawaja’s style. He may be young but he is not a dasher in the manner of his New South Wales colleagues Phil Hughes and Steve Smith. He has played only two Twenty20 games for the state, but that may be to his advantage as a Test cricketer. He plays properly.
His hands, though very low on the handle, were sufficiently relaxed for the ball not to carry to second slip if he edged. He defended with a straight bat and precise footwork. He left the ball outside off-stump. Then, with a touch of the orient, he flicked square on the off-side for boundaries. He looked the part.
Given how well Khawaja had played the pace bowlers, maybe Andrew Strauss should have tested him with the off-breaks – and the presence – of Graeme Swann earlier. But the England captain recalled his off-spinner for the 59th over. It would prove to be the last of the day and the last of Khawaja’s innings.
No, the ball was not going to bounce and turn viciously off this surface. But after two hours of composure we were now reminded Khawaja is still a novice. Strauss and Swann tempted him deliciously and he succumbed.
All but two men (the slip and forward short leg) were saving singles when Swann started the over. Khawaja defended the first three balls with no difficulty.
Now captain and bowler started fiddling. Ian Bell was summoned from mid-wicket to silly-point; they kept Jonathan Trott at square leg up for the single. There were acres of space leg-side.
Khawaja advanced to the next delivery. Swann sensed him coming and adjusted his length. Khawaja middled the ball to mid-on, although he was not perfectly positioned. A small victory to the off-spinner. A chastened batsman defended the next one, but to the last ball the 24-year-old was seduced by those wide open spaces. He swept and up went the top-edge into the hands of Trott.
Upon his return the members stood and applauded as if he had scored a century. But he reacted how any proper batsman, who had scored only 37, should. He kept his eyes on the turf and his bat behind him rather than raised in acknowledgment.
He recognised that despite batting silkily for two hours, he had squandered his first chance. But there will be many more.
Australia won toss and batted
AUSTRALIA – First innings
S Watson c Strauss b Bresnan 45
P Hughes c Collingwood b Tremlett 31
U Khawaja c Trott b Swann 37
M Clarke c Anderson b Bresnan 4
M Hussey not out 12
Extras (lb-4, nb-1) 5
–––––
Total (for four, 59 overs) 134
Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-105, 3-113, 4-134.
To bat: B Haddin, S Smith, M Johnson, P Siddle, M Beer, B Hilfenhaus.
Bowling: Anderson 20-5-34-0, Tremlett 16-6-40-1 (1nb), Bresnan 16-4-47-2, Swann 5-3-6-1, Collingwood 2-1-3-0
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