Usman Khawaja’s dream of a fairytale Ashes farewell looks even more unlikely following his latest failure – and the emergence of a bright young star waiting in the wings.
The 38-year-old was dismissed for a second innings eight in Australia’s collapse – giving him just 63 runs in six innings against India this summer – including one not out.
As Khawaja struggled again, BBL fans were still buzzing over a record-breaking effort from teenager Sam Konstas for Sydney Thunder the night before.
He scored 56 from 27 balls, reaching the half-century in 20 balls, to eclipse the tournament record of 21 held by Alex Hales (21 balls). Konstas also became the youngest player to score a BBL half-century.
The innings, in the context of Khawaja’s fading form, caught the eye of former England skipper Michael Vaughan, who has tipped Konstas as a potential super star and said Australia should consider bringing him straight into the team.
“There’s always a want and a will to talk about what could go wrong with any young player but they’ve got to get him in quickly because he’s got the ceiling to be world-class,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.
“You look at the movements, you look at the skill. There’s that flow of the bat, the little tricks and you might see them in the Test match in the modern era. He can seriously play.
“I think he’s a wonderful talent and he’s got a huge future and if there’s a few failures from now until Sydney I wouldn’t be surprised if he is brought in to make his debut at his home venue. I think he could be brought in to play at the SCG.”
Speaking before the Test, Khawaja said he wanted to play through to next year’s Ashes and finish his career against England at the SCG.
“If everything is going well there is no reason why I would not want to play another summer in Australia. My body is good, my mind is good and I am still hitting the ball well,” he told News Corp.
“It (a series against India) is awesome to play, it’s massive but the pride and joy and tradition of playing in the Ashes, there’s nothing like it. The emotion involved, you saw it last Ashes both on and off the field, there’s just so much involved with it. It’s pretty special.”
Having catapulted into Test calculations this summer, ultimately missing out on the vacant opener’s spot to Nathan McSweeney, Konstas showed he is a three-format prospect.
He was only playing the BBL match due to a teammate’s injury but was sensational opening alongside David Warner.
“He’s just calm and clear in his mind,” Warner said.
“It was actually exciting to go out and bat with him. I love that his chit chat was good. He’s playing with freedom, and that’s what you like from a youngster.”
Kerry O’Keeffe said Konstas’ international debut would come “within the next 12 months without question”.
“Looking at him in the Big Bash, he’s now an expansive player. He slog sweeps, he slaps over point,” O’Keeffe said.
“At 19 for his stroke range to be expanding as it is, he is a wunderkind.”
Michael Hussey was another who lavished praise on the young gun.
“What an innings,” Hussey said. “Amazing performance.
“He’s 19 years of age, big stage, and he’s hardly mistimed a ball.
“Played some beautiful shots, he’s innovative, showed some power as well. It’s been a class innings.”
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