Brett Lee, Ravi Shastri back Usman Khawaja to regain lost form after India struggles
A pair of former cricket greats have backed Usman Khawaja to regain form amid calls for him to be dropped as Australian opener.
After scores of only 8, 4, 13 and 9no this series, pressure is beginning to mount. He has passed 50 twice in three Sheffield Shield matches earlier in the summer, and another in the one-day cup.
But on a rain-affected day one in the third Test against India, Khawaja was by far the more positive of the two Aussie openers.
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When play resumed after the first rain interruption, Khawaja smacked just the second ball to the boundary for four, and looked to get on the front foot more than he had in Perth and Adelaide.
Usman Khawaja scored 19 on a rain-shortened day one in Brisbane. Getty
He will resume on Sunday on 19. Down the other end, Nathan McSweeney is on four.
Speaking on Fox Sports, Lee said they were signs Khawaja still has plenty left in the tank, but he needed to make a big score in this innings.
"It's pretty cut throat at the moment, isn't it? We're hearing Usman Khawaja coming towards the end of his career ... that's what they're saying in the press," Lee said during Saturday's extensive rain delays.
"But I don't really believe it, I don't read into it too much.
"The signs are good for Usman Khawaja ... (but) he needs the rhythm tomorrow to get back into his game and I think if he gets the opportunity he might get a big one."
Fellow panellist Ravi Shastri said losing his opening partner David Warner would've been a massive change.
Where Warner and Khawaja's playing styles different but complemented each other, he and McSweeney share a more traditional red ball style of building into an innings.
"It does effect you big time, because a lot of the pressure is taken off you as a batsman (when) you can play your own game, leave a lot of balls because David (Warner) would attack at the other end," Shastri said.
"There's a player with intent, and the scoreboard will be ticking along."
Nathan McSweeney and Khawaja walking out of the tunnel ahead of play. Getty
Shastri said having Khawaja and McSweeney at the top of the order would've been part of the reason India chose to bowl first on a greenish Gabba wicket.
"When runs are not coming at both ends, that's one of the reasons why India must have opted to field first because they could have sensed an opportunity," he explained.
"The top order hasn't scored some runs, let's make some early inroads and put pressure on the middle order."
After rain restricted play on day one to just 13.2 overs, play will resume a half hour earlier for the rest of the match at 9.50am local time, 10.50am AEDT.
