Usman Khawaja – Career and Personal Biography
Usman Khawaja is an Australian cricketer who was born on December 18, 1986, in Islamabad, Pakistan. He is a left-handed batsman who has represented Australia in Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
Usman Khawaja is known for his elegant batting technique and ability to score big runs. He has scored several centuries in Test and ODI cricket and has been a consistent performer for Australia. In addition to representing the national team, Khawaja has also played for various domestic teams in Australia, including Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.
Career
Usman Khawaja made his international debut for Australia in an ODI match against Sri Lanka in January 2013. He has since played 44 Test matches, 40 ODIs, and 9 T20Is for his country. Here is an overview of his career:
- Test Career: Khawaja made his Test debut for Australia in 2011 against England. He has played 44 Test matches so far, scoring 2,887 runs at an average of 40.66, including 9 centuries and 14 half-centuries.
- One Day International (ODI) Career: Khawaja made his ODI debut in 2013 against Sri Lanka. He has played 40 ODIs and scored 1,795 runs at an average of 43.68, including 2 centuries and 11 half-centuries.
- Twenty20 International (T20I) Career: Khawaja has represented Australia in 9 T20I matches, scoring 209 runs at an average of 26.12.
- Domestic Career: In domestic cricket, Khawaja has played for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield, where he has scored over 7,000 runs with an average over 45. He has also played in various T20 tournaments, including the Big Bash League for the Sydney Thunder and the IPL for teams like Kings XI Punjab and Rising Pune Supergiant.
Throughout his career, Khawaja has established himself as a technically sound batsman with the ability to score big runs. He has been a consistent performer for Australia in Test cricket and has also made valuable contributions in limited-overs formats.
Test Match
Test match career stats for Usman Khawaja:
- Matches Played: 44
- Innings: 70
- Runs Scored: 2,887
- Average: 40.66
- Highest Score: 174
- Centuries: 9
- Half-centuries: 14
- Catches: 37
One Day International (ODIs)
Usman Khawaja has represented the Australian cricket team in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Here are his career stats in ODIs:
- Matches Played: 40
- Innings: 39
- Runs Scored: 1,795
- Average: 43.68
- Highest Score: 138
- Centuries: 2
- Half-centuries: 11
- Catches: 11
Twenty20 International (T20Is)
Usman Khawaja has represented the Australian cricket team in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Here is an overview of his T20I career:
- Matches Played: 9
- Innings: 9
- Runs Scored: 209
- Average: 26.12
- Strike Rate: 133.12
- Highest Score: 58
- Half-centuries: 1
- Catches: 4
Honours
Usman Khawaja has achieved several honours and accolades throughout his cricket career. Some of his notable honours include:
- Allan Border Medal: Khawaja won the prestigious Allan Border Medal in 2016. The award is presented annually by Cricket Australia to the best-performing Australian male cricketer of the year.
- Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack: Khawaja was named in the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack’s “Cricketers of the Year” in 2016. This recognition is given to five cricketers each year for their exceptional performances and contributions to the sport.
- Sheffield Shield Player of the Season: Khawaja was awarded the Sheffield Shield Player of the Season in 2012-2013. This accolade recognizes the top-performing player in Australia’s premier domestic first-class cricket competition.
- Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: In 2013, Khawaja received the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award, which is presented to the best young cricketer in Australian cricket.
These honours highlight Khawaja’s excellence on the cricket field and his contributions to Australian cricket.
Achievements
Usman Khawaja has achieved several notable milestones and accomplishments throughout his cricket career. Here are some of his achievements:
- Test Centuries: Khawaja has scored 9 centuries in Test matches, showcasing his ability to score big runs and contribute significantly to Australia’s batting lineup.
- Ashes Success: Khawaja played a vital role in Australia’s Ashes victories, including the 2017-2018 series where he scored crucial runs and played a key part in Australia reclaiming the Ashes urn.
- Allan Border Medal: Khawaja won the Allan Border Medal in 2016, which recognizes the best Australian cricketer of the year across all formats.
- Consistency in Domestic Cricket: Khawaja has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, particularly in the Sheffield Shield, where he has scored over 7,000 runs with an average of over 45.
- International Captainships: Khawaja has had the honor of captaining the Australian cricket team in international matches, showcasing his leadership skills and recognition within the team.
These achievements underline Khawaja’s impact and success in the cricketing world, both at the international level and in domestic competitions.
Personal Life
Usman Khawaja was born on December 18, 1986, in Islamabad, Pakistan. He moved to Australia with his family at a young age and eventually became an Australian citizen.
Khawaja is known to be a private individual and has kept his personal life relatively low-key. However, it is known that he is married to Rachel McLellan, whom he tied the knot with in April 2018. The couple has a daughter named Amelia.
In addition to cricket, Khawaja has shown a passion for education. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation from the University of New South Wales and has expressed an interest in pursuing a career as a pilot after his cricketing days.
Outside of cricket, Khawaja enjoys spending time with his family and is known to have a love for golf. He has also been involved in various philanthropic activities and charity work.
Overall, Usman Khawaja maintains a private personal life and prefers to keep his focus on his cricketing career and spending quality time with his family.
