Ashes 2023: Usman Khawaja Has Brought A Lot Of Serenity In What Has Been A Nervy Australian Batting Lineup - Damien Fleming

Australia’s star batter Usman Khawaja will have to be watchful in the morning session of Day 5 as the Aussies need 174 runs to win the first Test match and have 7 wickets in hand. Usman Khawaja has looked in sublime touch having scored an unbeaten knock of 34 runs in 81 balls.

Australia would be banking on Travis Head to play a quickfire effective knock for the team. The visitors should not make the mistake of getting complacent as a couple of wickets can change the complexion of the match as the conditions are expected to assist the pacers.

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The two veterans Stuart Broad & James Anderson will have to be spot-on with their lines & lengths in this high-octane clash. It would be interesting to see what strategy head coach Brendon McCullum & skipper Ben Stokes apply as attacking field placements when the spinner is bowling can backfire.

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David Warner was so nervous – Damien Fleming

Damien Fleming was having an interaction on the SEN podcast ‘Whateley’ and was stunned by the way Aussies batters have fared except the stalwart Usman Khawaja. Damien Fleming was surprised by the way Smith, Warner and Labuschagne performed in the match.

“We wouldn’t be in this position without Usman Khawaja, who in his renaissance as a Test opener in the last 18 months has just methodically started to tick off every little doubt or criticism of his game and he has brought a lot of serenity in what has been a nervy Australian batting lineup,” said Damien Fleming.

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“David Warner was so nervous in the first innings, I can’t remember the last time that was the case. Marnus Labuschagne was playing at deliveries he wouldn’t normally do. Steve Smith just never looked himself and Travis Head and Cameron Green were quite nervy when they started,” he added.

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Stuart Broad, James Anderson & Ollie Robinson are very good against the left-handers – Damien Fleming

Damien Fleming was quite excited to see how the left-handed batters are going to fare this time around as compared to the 2019 series. Damien Fleming said that the Aussie left-handed batters would find it difficult against the likes of Broad, Anderson & Robinson.

“It’s massive because a lot of the analysis leading in was how our lefties are going to go compared to 2019. Is it just going to be the same – around the wicket, wobbled seam, cross-seam and they might want to get the ball to go straight on,” said Damien Fleming.

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“Broad, Anderson and Robinson are very good against the left-handers. They have got Moeen Ali to spin it against left-handers. So I would have been backing either Labuschagne or Smith to score. I would have had them No. 1 and 2 to score the most runs for Australia in this Test match and they have been knocked over for less than 40,” he further maintained.

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