Jason Gillespie is right. Khawaja played the race card at the wrong time
Usman Khawaja’s belief that commentary about his preparation for the first Test carried racist undertones was inflammatory, and wide of the mark.
“These are the same racial stereotypes I have been [dealing with] my whole life,” Khawaja said. “I just thought the media and the old players had moved past it.”
No names were mentioned, but I am confident I am one of the reporters Khawaja was alluding to. I do not know him personally, but I have immense respect for everything he has achieved on and off the field.
Khawaja addresses the media on Friday morning.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
I also reject any suggestion that my reporting – or that of my colleagues in the press box – carried racist undertones. We were doing our jobs. The scrutiny would have been the same for any cricketer, regardless of their background.
Khawaja appears to believe commentators think about his ethnicity more than they actually do. As for the trolls on social media, that is a separate issue entirely. Khawaja is subjected to some genuinely awful attacks online, and that is wrong.
Here are the facts from Perth. Khawaja trained as usual in the lead-up to the first Test. He also played three rounds of golf in the three days before the first Test. Other players played golf, too.
Khawaja did not train the day before the Test. That is normal. Travis Head, who was out of form, chose to have a hit on match eve, which is not normal.
Brydon Carse dismisses Khawaja for 2 in the first innings at Perth.Credit: AP
Whether three rounds of golf in three days is too much is subjective - and beside the point. One current Australian Test cricketer’s personal coach has told his player not to play golf at all. Everyone is entitled to prepare for a match in the best way they see fit.
It only became an issue when, at the very moment Australia needed its opening batsman, Khawaja was struck down by back spasms and had to bat at No.4 on the first day of the series.
Khawaja’s back got worse, he was unable to open the batting in the second innings and did not play in the second Test.
“It was something I couldn’t control,” Khawaja said on Friday. “It wasn’t even about my performances. It was about something very personal. It was about my preparation.”
