Fans have taken to social media to call for the retirement of Usman Khawaja after the veteran Aussie opener failed to deliver on day two of the third Test against India.
Khawaja, who turns 38 next week, did well to bat with intent in the opening overs on Saturday – but was out for 21 after edging a Jasprit Bumrah delivery on day two.
Khawaja has now notched up 28 innings without scoring a Test century and pressure is well and truly mounting.
‘Time for Khawaja to get a tap on the shoulder,’ posted one X user.
‘Khawaja is not up to Test Match level any more,’ echoed another.
‘Time for Khawaja to retire,’ posted a third.
Questions mount about Usman Khawaja are run of poor form
The 37-year-old has now notched up 28 innings without scoring a Test century
It comes after former Aussie pace bowler Brendon Julian called for Khawaja to step away from the game after the Border-Gavaskar series.
‘Opening the batting in this series has been extremely difficult and I think as you get older – he’s 37 … I know he’s come out in the press and said ‘I’d like to make it to the next Ashes series.’ I just can’t see that personally,’ Julian told FOX Sports.
‘I actually think he probably should finish up this series in Australia, go out on a high. I just don’t like it when players try and hang on that little bit longer and as you get older and when you’re batting, you’re opening the batting against quality bowling with new balls.
‘That is very, very difficult and as you get older, you’re just not as sharp.’
Khawaja indicated during the week that he isn’t particularly worried about his patchy form.
‘We have won seven of the last nine games that we have played,’ he said.
‘What I know is that we are doing better than what the opposition are doing. In the last nine games not one game has gone to five days.
‘It has obviously been tough work for batters in general but that (the results) is all I focus on.
Aussie veteran has indicated that he’d like to make it to the Ashes series next year
‘The batsmen are still doing what they need to. I batted (lasted) the first session pretty much every single first innings last year which pretty much set up the game for the team.’
India need only draw the series to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, given they are its current holders.
It means a win in either Melbourne or Sydney would be enough for the tourists to keep the trophy for a fifth straight series.
India have won their past two Tests at the MCG, also drawing there in 2014-15 on a much flatter drop-in wicket than the one that exists in Melbourne today.
Their past three Tests at the SCG have been draws.
If the Brisbane Test is drawn, Australia will either need to win in both Melbourne and Sydney, or win one and have the other end in a draw.
