Australian Opening batter, Usman Khawaja has confirmed that he supported his captain’s decision to declare, despite being five runs away from a maiden double-hundred.

The Test series between the Proteas and Australia was one-way traffic. While the Aussies comprehensively won the three-match series, there was at least one loser in the group. Opening batsman, Usman Khawaja.

The 36-year-old can feel hard done by, as they left him just a hand-full of runs short of joining the exclusive 200 club.

It’s a club that features the likes of Don Bradman, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Graeme Smith, and Gary Kirsten, as well as Khawaja’s current teammates, David Warner and Steve Smith.

Khawaja tripped up by rain at the SCG

Rain ultimately spoiled the party. Khawaja was due to complete a personal milestone at a ground he has grown fond of. His average at the Sydney Cricket Ground is a mind-blowing 130.83, and that’s over ten innings!

Usman Khawaja is in prime company 👌 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/VGkpB0qfEf

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 8, 2023

Downpours plagued the series’ third and final test encounter, which rescued the Proteas from further embarrassment.

An Australian series white-wash would have secured the Baggy greens a spot in the Test Championship final, and with victory in the Australian captain, Pat Cummings’ sights, and time running out, it forced him to get South Africa into bat as soon as possible.

That saw Usman Khawaja end on an unbeaten 195, after spending nearly 9 hours out in the middle and facing 61 overs on his own.

Khawaja also became the third player to end unbeaten in the 190s. While he was denied entry into the 200 club, he finds himself in good company alongside Sir Frank Worrell and Sachin Tendulkar, who were also denied the opportunity to convert a double hundred.

A real team player

While the batter has the right to feel upset, or even have anger brewing toward his captain, he confirmed that the team’s efforts are much more important than his own.

Merv Hughes, an Australian Cricket legend who is part of the Triple M cricket commentary team, and who has the most majestic horseshoe moustache in cricket, asked Khawaja when and how he found out that the declaration would be made.

“I knew Patty wanted to bowl at some stage, and before he came up to me and talk to me I could, sort of, read the signs,” replied Khawaja on the Triple M cricket podcast.

“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 times.

“I went up to him and said ‘Patty, mate, whatever you need to do to win this test match, just do it’, because I love playing for Australia, and if I’m not playing this game to win this game, then it would be wrong for me to ask to go out for two or three overs.”

@triplemcricket Usman Khawaja reveals how Australia’s declaration came about 👀 #triplemcricket #cricket #fyp #crictok #usmankhawaja ♬ original sound – Triple M Cricket

Khawaja has been in proper form since returning to the international set-up and thoroughly deserved his place among the cricket greats. He has been playing up a storm after making his test cricket comeback and is surely just a couple of knocks away from crossing the 200-run mark.

Australia’s next test series will be against India, with the two powerhouse nations meeting in four encounters between 9 February and 13 March.