Go for different strokes

Khawaja counting down the sweeps until summer’s first Test

USMAN Khawaja believes the reverse sweep will become as orthodox as the cover drive to future generations of cricketers.

Khawaja has been chosen in Australia’s squad for the first Test of the home summer against India on December 6 and will play a Sheffield Shield match against Victoria next week as he returns from knee surgery.

Khawaja triggered a lively discussion in the Fox com- mentary box during Australia’s Twenty20 match against India in Brisbane on Wednesday when he challenged the suggestion the reverse sweep was a high risk stroke.

Yesterday he expanded on his thoughts and reaffirmed his belief that the reverse sweep was no longer the trick shot it was to previous generations.

“I think it is all about execution,’’ Khawaja said.

“If you grow up playing the reverse sweep – which these kids are – I think you will see the game change a lot over the next 10 years. A lot of guys will play the reverse sweep and it will be like the cover drive to them. If you do it enough and get out I don’t think there

should be a stigma attached to it.

“If someone goes out and does it for the first time in a game it is a bit different.

“That was all I was trying to get at.’’

Khawaja played a world record 21 reverse sweeps in his career- defining innings of 141 which saved the recent Dubai Test against Pakistan.

“It has taken me three or four years to get to where I am now and I will keep practising it,” he said.

“I played it in last season’s SCG Test match and I played it in South Africa.

“I got out in the first Test playing it ( in South Africa) and got sledged by the media but it did not stop me from playing it.’’

AUSTRALIAN TEST SQUAD: Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine ( c), Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain.