Usman Khawaja has revealed he initiated the discussion with Australian skipper Pat Cummins and urged him to do “whatever you need to do” to win the third Test against South Africa, even if it meant the star opener missed out on a major milestone.
Australia on Saturday bowled itself into contention to pull off a stunning victory in Sydney and series clean sweep against the hapless Proteas. Despite so much time being lost in the rain-marred SCG Test, the Aussies need 14 more wickets to pull off an astonishing victory – and cannot be counted out after rocking the tourists in Saturday’s two compelling sessions.
It came after rain again prevented play in the morning session following Friday’s washout, with Cummins declaring his team’s first innings post-lunch to chase victory.
Help the McGrath Foundation make this NRMA Insurance Pink Test one to remember by buying your Virtual Pink Seats today >
Cummins’ decision to declare deprived Khawaja of a career-defining first Test double century, with the elegant opener stranded on 195 not out.
Speaking on Triple M Cricket after the day’s play, Khawaja said Australia almost certainly would have continued batting if play had resumed at the scheduled start time of 10am.
But as rain fell on Saturday morning, Khawaja said he approached Cummins and encouraged him to make the team-first call.
“The plan was always to bat in the morning. The rain was the only thing that was going to halt it – and it rained at the worst time,” Khawaja told Triple M Cricket.
“Every time we thought we were going to get on, a little bit of rain would come through. Then they took the covers off and there were a few muddy patches. It just kept getting less likely and less likely (we would bat).
“I knew obviously Patty wanted to bowl at some stage … before he even came up to me and talked to me, I could sort of read the sign. I honestly just went up to him and went: ‘Patty, whatever you need to do to win this Test match, just do it. I love playing for Australia and you know if I‘m not playing this game to win this game, it’d be wrong for me to ask to go out there for two or three overs and just do what you feel is right.’
“I got in first. I don’t want him to come to me. I just went: ‘Mate, you make the decision, take the emotion out of it and do what you need to do.’ I made the initiative to make sure I got up to him first.”
Cummins on Saturday night uploaded a photo of Khawaja in an Instagram story post with the caption: “Sorry we couldn‘t get the double but brilliant innings @usman_khawajy.”
At the close on day four, South Africa was batting for survival at 6-149 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 4-475 declared, with unbeaten pair Marco Jansen on 10 and Simon Harmer six.
The outgunned South Africans have only passed 200 once so far in this series.
The weather forecast is for improving conditions and Australia has potentially 98 more overs on Sunday’s final day to finish off the South Africans. In the first Brisbane Test, the Proteas lost all 20 wickets in 86 overs and in Melbourne South Africa lasted 137.3 overs.
Cummins torments RSA with special spell | 04:58
“I’m pretty excited about tomorrow,” said spinner Nathan Lyon. “It’s going to be an exciting day’s cricket, we know what we have to do.
“We’ve just got to stick to our basics, that’s what we’ve done over the last 10 years or so … thrilling day tomorrow, do the basics well and see how we go.”
— with AFP
