NEW DELHI: Veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja supported Nathan McSweeney, his new opening partner, and advised him to play his own game against India in Perth instead of trying to emulate David Warner, a "special player" in his own right.
Nearing his 38th birthday, Khawaja, a 73-Test veteran with around 5,000 runs and 15 tons, also said that McSweeney didn't need to score runs quickly and suggested that he simply "repeat the process" that had worked for him thus far.
"I don't know where this myth started that you needed someone to score really fast. As an opener you're trying to score runs and you've got five days to do it. We didn't have one Test match go for five days, last year. Opening is as much about scoring runs and just being able to absorb that time," Khawaja was quoted as saying by news.com.au.
Regarding Warner, Khawaja stated that not everyone possesses the same talent as his former opening partner, who was able to switch gears with ease in a conventional setting.
"Davey (Warner) was special. He could score runs while absorbing. He could sometimes score 100 of 100 balls but he didn't do it every time. Sometimes it took him 170, 180 balls to get that 100.
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"He was consistent, he was out there, he was setting a platform for guys later to come in and score runs. Those two are both very important things," Khawaja said.
Khawaja is certain that in addition to batting time, McSweeney can score runs at a reasonable pace.
"I think Nathan does that really well. He can score runs, but he can also bat time. They're really important facets to have in Test cricket if you want to set games up."
Khawaja informed McSweeney that there were "no guarantees in cricket" but that the batter, 25, didn't "have to do anything different" in the Test setting.
"You just try to repeat the process. . The only thing that really changes is that you have a few more people watching. Not many people watch Shield cricket."
Khawaja appears to have faith in McSweeney's ability to meet the demands of a format as highly skilled as Tests.
"You always go through ups and downs in cricket, but when you look at Nathan, you look at his demeanour, you look at the way he plays, you feel that over a longer period of time that, yes, this guy will be able to handle the scrutiny of Test cricket and the pressure of Test cricket."
"Even though there are no guarantees, I'm sure the selectors have made a calculated decision with him," Khawaja concluded.
