Red-hot Khawaja champions fresh subcontinent outlook

Red-hot opener Usman Khawaja believes the strategic failures of previous subcontinental tours will benefit not only those who were there to experience them, but also Australia's fresh crop of Test batters.

Six years on from being made the "scapegoat" of a disastrous 0-3 whitewash in Sri Lanka, Khawaja has returned to the island-nation as one of Test cricket's most in-form batters and with supreme confidence in a batting technique once written off as being susceptible to quality spin.

The left-hander's prolific form since his recall during the Ashes was vital to Australia's 1-0 series win in Pakistan, an emotional homecoming for the Sydney-raised, Islamabad born batter.

Players and support staff have attributed the breakthrough Pakistan tour triumph to an unwavering commitment to their strategy of attrition over 15 days of cricket, notably sticking to it despite their vaunted bowling attack taking just four wickets over the course of the entire drawn first Test.

Khawaja insists that steadfastness contrasts with previous tours abroad, bluntly revealing his feelings about their approach to the 2016 tour of Sri Lanka.

"I think we had three different plans for three different Test matches, which is not ideal," Khawaja told cricket.com.au.

"It's something that I addressed before we played in Pakistan to the group, just (speaking about) the experiences I've had.

"Because if you have the right process and you have the right game plan, and you don't execute it, that doesn't mean you need to go and change it.

"Especially in the subcontinent, because things can get tough and change really quickly here.

"Last time (in Sri Lanka), we probably didn't do it well enough. We probably second guessed ourselves a bit too much."

Khawaja began the last home summer out of the Test side but, earning a recall for the New Year’s Test when Travis Head caught COVID-19, and has since re-established himself not only as a leading Australian player but as one of the most dangerous batters in the world.  

Since his recall at the start of 2022, no Test batter has scored more than Khawaja's 751 runs at 125 in nine innings, including four hundreds – not even England's Jonny Bairstow (703 runs at 58 this year) who has batted four more times.

A career that has been characterised by extended absences from the Test arena will reach a major milestone in Galle on Wednesday when Khawaja plays his 50th Test, 11 years on from his debut.

This tour marks his third Test series in Sri Lanka (he was also dropped in 2011, though had no qualms given it was for a returning Ricky Ponting) and is confident this current crop of batters is among the best he has played with in terms of their capability against the turning ball.

Key to that, Khawaja believes, is his confidence that the less experienced middle-order of Head, Cameron Green and Alex Carey will not be prone to the same mistakes previous Australian batters have made.

"We proved to ourselves in Pakistan that we had the game plan to do well in the subcontinent," said Khawaja.

"This is one of the better teams of playing spin that I've been a part of with the Australian cricket team.

"I think we've learned from past mistakes, and the young guys coming in are learning from the older guys' mistakes.

"I think the big thing is to give players experience and to understand that when they're young, they're going to fail a little bit. (But) if you really think that they are the best players, you need to stick with them.

"Because when they come back next time and the time after that, that's when they're going to start rewarding you.

"We haven't been great at that in previous 10-15 years, the Australian cricket team, especially in terms of selection, how we've done it."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Jeffrey Vandersay. Standby players: Dunith Wellalage, Lakshitha Rasanjana.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. Standby players: Jon Holland, Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

Sri Lanka v Australia Test matches will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Limited-overs results

June 7: Australia won first T20 by 10 wickets

June 8: Australia won second T20 by three wickets

June 11: Sri Lanka won third T20 by four wickets

June 14: Australia won first ODI by two wickets (DLS)

June 16: Sri Lanka won second ODI by 26 runs (DLS)

June 19: Sri Lanka won third ODI by six wickets

June 21: Sri Lanka won fourth ODI by four runs

June 24: Australia won fifth ODI by four wickets

Australia A results

Australia A squad: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando (will not play due to injury), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel,Nisala Tharaka

June 8: Australia A won by seven wickets

June 10: Sri Lanka A won by four wickets

June 14-17: Australia A won by 68 runs

June 21-24: Australia A won by five wickets