Aussies endorse ‘classy’ Usman
CRICKET AUSTRALIA is “pretty happy” with Usman Khawaja’s stopstart World Cup that appears to have drained all the pretournament fluency he built up as the planet’s most prolific run-scorer in 2019.
Khawaja’s World Cup average of 19.6 runs does not rank in the tournament’s top 50 and he has entered at No.3, 4 and 6 since being shafted as captain Aaron Finch’s opening partner.
Khawaja has failed to post a half-century after five games and is suddenly vulnerable in the team, given a batsman is set to make way for an allrounder and coach Justin Langer rates the versatile Shaun Marsh as a “very, very explosive player”.
“He’s (Khawaja) playing a different role,” assistant coach Brad Haddin said.
“It’s not that he’s not having success, he’s been in a role where he’s had limited opportunities.
“Before he could go out and set the pace of the innings (as an opener) and now the innings is dictating the role he needs to play.
“He’s been OK with it – he’s a class act. He’s had little cameos throughout, he would’ve liked to go on bigger (against Sri Lanka on Saturday) and get a big score.
“We’re pretty happy with where he’s at – he’s just got to bat the situation, and No.3 is not uncommon to him.
“He’s played most of his career at No.3 in state cricket and Test cricket.”
Glenn Maxwell’s strike-rate of 188.5 ranks No.1 at the World Cup but aside from him, Australia has lacked firepower in the middle order. That is largely because Khawaja and Marsh have been played out of position, sent in for finishing roles when they are far better suited to the top of the order.
Khawaja has opened the batting in 20 ODIs, averaging a healthy 53.6. But after 15 innings coming in at No.3 or lower he is averaging just 22.6 runs.
“One of the luxuries at the moment is we’re still winning, and we still haven’t found the perfect rhythm for our game, which is a dangerous sign moving forward,” Haddin said.
“One of the strengths might be our adaptability in the tournament. All of our players are pretty hungry to get a game and understand that we might call on them any time.” SATURDAY, June 15: Babinda defeated Cairns/ Stratford in the men’s pennants. Thursday, June 20: Mixed social bowls. Names in by 1pm. Play starts at 1.30pm. Visitors and new bowlers are most welcome. Saturday, June 22: Men’s pennants at home. Babinda v Edge Hill, 1pm start. Players are: G Omodei, G Tsakissiris, B Walker, B Smith, J Azzopardi, R Trackson, L Holland and K Anderson. Reserves: R Omodei, J Martinod and J Vella. Sunday, June 23: Men’s $1000 Day with 14 teams starts at 9am and we’re looking forward to a great day of bowls. Congratulations to Brandon Smith and his partner Jake Selberg from the Gold Coast who combined to win the gold medals for the Australian impaired sighting pairs at Broadbeach. His grandmother stood beside him as his director which was a tiring effort. Congratulations on a job well done. Brandon also got to the quarter-finals of the Australian impaired sighting singles. Well done, Brandon. RESULTS: Wednesday, June 12: Winners: Reg Pearson, Rob Morris, Joe Jackson. Runners-up: Tony MacGregor, Athol Smith, Garry Moule. Saturday, June 15, Men’s pennants. Div.1 Cairns/ Stratford d Edmonton, Div. 2 West Cairns d Edmonton Div. 3 West Cairns d Edmonton. Mixed bowls cancelled due to insufficient starters. Coming events: Wednesday, June 19, Men’s self-select mufti triples, cash prizes plus jackpot. Visitors welcome. Nominations close 11.30am on day for play at 12.30pm. Phone club on 4055 5344 and leave a message. Saturday, June 22, Men’s pennants. Div. 1 Edmonton v Marlin Coast, 9am start. Please be at club by 8.30am. Edmonton v Cairns/Stratford at 1pm, both matches to be played at Edmonton. Div.2 Edmonton v Cairns/Stratford at Stratford, 1pm start. Div.3 Edmonton v Marlin Coast at Edmonton, 100pm start, afternoon games, players be at club by 12.30pm. Sunday, June 23, Mixed mufti triples. Club select skips pick a card. Visitors welcome, cash prizes plus jackpot. Nomination sheet in Fuller Sports Club foyer or phone club on 4055 5344 and leave a message. entries close 11.30am on day for play at 12.30pm. Special note: Wednesday, June 19 – Volunteers who assisted Bentley Park College in fitness assessment program for Year 12 students, please be at club by 11am. Ladies Winner of social bowls and including competition players – N Dawson I O’Callaghan L Catalano B Hill. Runners-up: C Populin D Gough S Ferrando D Begg. Results of competition played June 13, final of fours: C Populin, S Greenwood (sub D Gough), S Ferrando, D Begg def J Baird, S Bates, B Mason, D Quinn, Results of competition singles final: T McAlary def L Ceely, Results of consistency singles played June 15: D Hester def D Quinn. Competition called for June 20, Consistency Singles: K Paki v S Bates, Marker B Mason, J Rick v L Ceelym Marker J Baird, A Evans v T McAlary, Marker L Catalano. MIXED results for this weekend. On Saturday, June 15, Cairns/Stratford defeated Brothers Edmonton 75/52. Also on Saturday, Cairns/ Stratford defeated Edge Hill 58/50. However, on Sunday, June 16, Cairns/Stratford went down to Marlin Coast 43/74. Division 2 results: Cairns/Stratford went down to Babinda 39/42. Close game there. On Saturday, June 22, Division 1 are away to Brothers Edmonton at 1pm. Division 2 are at home v Brothers Edmonton at 1pm. Teams are requested to resubmit their teams for club championships 4s to Sandy soonest. LADIES 10 Ladies enjoyed bowls last week Today, social bowls at 1pm, Names by 12 noon We were very sad to hear of the passing of one of our members Marie Rossi. Gordonvale Men, Thursday, June 20. Club selected 3 bowl pairs at 1pm. Names by 12 noon. Visitors very welcome on all bowling days.