Watch: Usman Khawaja responds to Sam Konstas for reverse sweep during net practice session ahead of first Test against Sri Lanka

The Australian team has arrived Sri Lanka For the Test and ODI series against the hosts. The first Test between the two countries is scheduled to begin on January 29 in Galle as the two teams prepare for a crucial clash in the longest format of the game. However, before the crucial encounter against Sri Lanka, the Australian opener Othman Al Khawaja He invests his time and energy at the net trying to hit a shot that is unorthodox by his standards – the reverse sweep. This led to a light exchange of ideas between Khawaja and his young co-opener Konstas himself Where he received a history lesson from the veteran editorial.

Usman Khawaja talks about the difficulties hitters face in reverse shots

After the training session ends Galle International StadiumAl Khawaja spoke about his experiences in Sri Lanka Cricket AustraliaThe official channel of during his long and decorated career as a cricketer. In the midst of this, he referred to the passing remarks made by Konstas and his other national team teammates while practicing the reverse sweep into the net, to which he responded kindly.

“Yes, yes, show some respect. Well, it wasn’t easy when I started playing the reverse pass. You come out and toughen up. Now you’re good.” Khawaja’s response was in reference to the conservative mentality the cricket community had when he was young.

In addition, he also commented on the experiences of playing in Sri Lanka and the conditions of the Indian subcontinent in general. He also talked about the difference between playing on Australian grounds and the Indian subcontinent. This is Khawaja’s fifth tour to Sri Lanka. He had been part of the Australian squad on their previous four Test tours to the island nation and the under-19 campaign as a junior.

Here’s the video

Usman Khawaja is back for a Test tour of Sri Lanka, and things have changed with the reverse sweep🤣#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/qT9fo1kO0n

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 26, 2025

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Khawaja revealed his plan to retire before his trip to Sri Lanka

The 38-year-old has had a muted season and failed to make an impact with the bat in the home series against India In which the Australian team emerged victorious Border Gavaskar Trophy For the first time after a decade. Speculation was rife that the Australian veteran might opt ​​to retire from Test cricket after the conclusion of the coveted bilateral series, but Khawaja had his own thoughts on the matter.

After the series ended, Khawaja sat down to chat roar.com In it, he talked about his retirement plans and perhaps when he can say goodbye to the game. During the discussion, Khawaja expressed his openness and flexibility about the matter and left it to the Australian team management to decide his future.

“There are definitely those thoughts (of withdrawing in Sydney) in my head, I’m not afraid to talk about it. I’m a human being. I still want to play the Ashes at the bare minimum. I try not to think too much about the future, that’s the distant future I think. As long as we win, I’ll still be contributing, my body will still feel good, and I’ll still be playing. For me, it always feels like one summer at a time. Khawaja commented on rumors of his retirement from the longest form of the game.

In addition to this, he also pointed out that ups and downs are an integral part of the game and that he is used to the disappointment of not getting up to bat at times.

“(Playing in the subcontinent) has been a love-hate relationship. (But) there will be times when you score runs, times when you don’t score runs. You respect that as you get older, cricket always ebbs and flows. I’m very in tune with that now,” The 38-year-old concluded.

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