Usman Khawaja's epic response to critics as Australia take control of ...

Usman Khawaja has answered his critics with a defiant knock on day one of the Boxing Day Test to help Australia take a commanding lead. Having failed to fire in the first three matches against India, Khawaja found his spot in the side under threat heading into game four. And many felt he should have been the one to make way for Sam Konstas instead of Nathan McSweeney.

Before Thursday, Khawaja had only reached 50 in one of his past 17 innings for the national side. The 38-year-old had been dismissed for eight and four in Perth, while he only added 13 and nine not out in Australia's 10-wicket victory in Adelaide before notching just 21 and 8 in Brisbane. It means the last time Khawaja made a Test ton for Australia was during the 2023 Ashes series against England. And while that streak continued, his 57 on Thursday has gone a long way to silencing his critics at least for the time being.

Usman Khawaja returned to form with a free flowing half century on Boxing Day. Image: Getty

Khawaja returned to form on Boxing Day with his first half-century in almost a year. However, despite finally posting a good knock, the 38-year-old will be kicking himself that he couldn't go on with it after Jasprit Bumrah's return to the fold brought about his undoing. Khawaja tried to pull a loose ball from Bumrah but it hit the toe of his bat and ballooned to KL Rahul at midwicket. “An unexpected breakthrough,” Adam Gilchrist exclaimed on Fox Cricket.

It was a big shame for the veteran opener who was playing free-flowing cricket. Although the performance is sure to stave off calls for him to be dropped for the time being it was a performance Andrew McDonald knew was just around the corner.

A loose shot resulted in Usman Khawaja being dismissed but there was plenty of promising signs from the Aussie opener. Image: Getty

Asked about Khawaja's struggle for form heading into the Boxing Day Test, McDonald was nonchalant saying: "I think he's fine. Usman's not a concern.

"I think the way he's preparing (and) the way he's going about his work, the runs will come. I think anyone who knows batting, and batting in recent times has been difficult with ball dominating bat, so, his method is clear, the way he is preparing is clear and good players always return to the runs and I'm sure that will be the case over the next couple of Test matches." And his display on Thursday was a welcome sight for Aussie cricket fans who believe it is an innings that can help propel him on for the remainder of the summer.

Usman Khawaja has finally registered his first fifty of the series!

showcasing his resilience and determination at the crease. Known for his classy stroke play and patience, this knock will undoubtedly be a boost for both him and his team.#AUSvIND #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/Y8BOXaJmCD

— Cric Update (@cricupdate125) December 26, 2024

Speaking before the third Test, Khawaja voiced his desire to continue to play through to next year's Ashes and finish his career on the ground he knows so well (the SCG) after growing up in western Sydney against Australia's oldest foe, England. “If everything is going well there is no reason why I would not want to play another summer in Australia. My body is good, my mind is good and I am still hitting the ball well," he said, according to The Daily Telegraph.

"It (a series against India) is awesome to play, it’s massive but the pride and joy and tradition of playing in the Ashes, there’s nothing like it. The emotion involved, you saw it last Ashes both on and off the field, there’s just so much involved with it. It’s pretty special."

While Khawaja walked off the MCG to warm applause and left cricket fans with a sense of optimism he can now go on to post plenty of runs this summer, he drew a negative reaction after 19-year-old Konstas was asked to face his first ball. Many fans expected the vastly more experienced Khawaja to front up to Indian wicket-machine Jasprit Bumrah and take the first ball of the fourth Test.

However, it was the teenage debutant who was given a baptism of fire. Konstas showed he wasn't fazed by the pressure with an incredible knock. But fans were shocked that Konstas had been made to face the first ball and turned on Khawaja for not taking the bullet, considering his vast experience.