"Australian Players Are Getting Treated Like Adults.."- Usman Khawaja

Australia star Usman Khawaja has opened up on the infamous homeworkgate scandal of 2013 and has explained how things have changed for the better since then. Australia performed disastrously during their 2013 tour of India and suffered a historic 4-0 whitewash. The tour was further marred by the Homeworkgate scandal as key players such as Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, and Usman Khawaja were sent home by the head coach Mickey Arthur for not doing a presentation.

It was followed by a 3-0 Ashes defeat in England. Compared to 2013, the current situation is vastly different as the dynamics of the team and its performance have undergone a significant transformation. Earlier this year, Australia won the WTC final by beating India and Usman Khawaja has been one of their best performers in the last couple of years or so.

As the veteran opener gears up for the home season, he talked about the troubled times in 2013 and accused Arthur and other leadership figures of not respecting the players. He went on to heap praise on the current leaders of the team for understanding the players better.

“They didn’t respect how hard Test cricket is mentally,” Usman Khawaja told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I think Patty and especially Andrew and George understand how hard it is to be able to mentally perform at international level. I don’t think the guys would have been able to perform at the international level the way they have this year if it wasn’t for those people at the top.

“I know for a fact that they have worked hard at taking the load off, taking the pressure off, taking the stress off, and letting the players play at their best for as long as possible. The little things that don’t matter do not matter – we’re not there to box tick,” he added.

Players getting treated like adults: Usman Khawaja

Speaking further, Usman Khawaja revealed that the players were scolded for trying to rest during Test matches earlier. He also stated that they were forced into unnecessary drills and warmups before saying that things have changed now and players are treated like adults.

“Five years ago, if I was sleeping during a cricket game, I’d get absolutely scolded,” Khawaja said.

“A Test match is five days, it’s tough work, but ‘what are you doing sleeping during a game, wake up’. Now with Patty or anyone, if someone is sleeping during the game, no one says a word. Even the smallest things like warm-ups, getting you ready to play the game. That takes that little bit of mental strength. Every day you don’t have to wake up dreading doing a warm-up you don’t want to do.

“If I nicked off the day before, and I’m not batting, why do I need to do a warm-up? I don’t need to warm up until we go out and field again. Think there’s that respect, accountability and trust that everyone will do what they need to.

“Players are getting treated like adults for the first time in a long time, and they’re behaving like adults … for the majority of the time,” he added.

Khawaja has been one of the most consistent performers in Tests in the last couple of years. He was the third-highest run-scorer in Tests in 2022 as he finished the year with an impressive 1080 runs from 11 games. In 2023, he is the leading run-scorer and has scored 1037 runs so far with the help of 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries.