Bumrah Bowls Khawaja for Eight as Horror Series Continues
Bumrah Strikes Again, Khawaja’s Struggles Continue in Brisbane
Brisbane, Australia – Jasprit Bumrah has delivered another blow to Australia’s batting lineup, dismissing veteran opener Usman Khawaja for a paltry eight runs in the ongoing Test match at the Gabba.
0.252%2C%24multiply0.7725%2C%24ratio1.5%2C%24width756%2C%24x0%2C%24y0/tcropcustom/q86%2Cfauto/e3a262b2d6bbee5542e196269b913f94ae91e46f” alt=”Khawaja walks from the Gabba after being bowled by Bumrah. ” width=”584″ height=”390″>Khawaja,who celebrated his 38th birthday yesterday,looked promising against Mohammed Siraj in the previous over but couldn’t handle Bumrah’s guile. The dismissal, bowled off bat and pad, continues a worrying trend for the experienced batsman.
this series has been a struggle for Khawaja, with scores of eight, four, 13, nine not out, 21, and now another eight. His series aggregate of 63 runs at an average of 12.6 is a far cry from his usual standards.
While selectors are unlikely to drop Khawaja for the Boxing Day Test, his form is undoubtedly a cause for concern.The pressure is mounting on the veteran opener to rediscover his touch and contribute significantly to Australia’s batting efforts.
Interview with Cricket Analyst, Mark Taylor
NewsDirectory3.com: Mark, another low score for Usman Khawaja. What are your thoughts on his performance in this series?
Mark Taylor: It’s certainly a worrying trend for Khawaja. He’s a quality batsman with a proven track record, but he just hasn’t found his rhythm in this Ashes series.
Those low scores are putting immense pressure on him, especially as the series progresses.
NewsDirectory3.com: He looked relatively pleasant against siraj, but then Bumrah got the better of him. Can you analyze the dismissal?
Mark Taylor: Bumrah is a master craftsman. He has this knack for exploiting even the slightest chink in a batsman’s armour.Khawaja perhaps got a little greedy against Siraj and then was caught off-guard by Bumrah’s line and length.
NewsDirectory3.com: Do you think Khawaja will be dropped for the boxing Day Test?
Mark Taylor: It’s highly unlikely. The selectors will want to give him every chance to turn things around. However, if he continues to struggle, they might have to consider other options for the later Tests.
NewsDirectory3.com: What does Khawaja need to do to regain his form?
Mark Taylor: Khawaja needs to find a way to relax and play his natural game. He’s been putting too much pressure on himself.
He needs to trust his instincts and back his ability.
A good knock in a Shield game before the next Test could be exactly what he needs to regain confidence.