Australia’s Usman Khawaja named ICC Mens Test Cricketer of the Year 2023

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Dubai: Opener Usman Khawaja, the star of Australia’s World Test Championship win, has been declared the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2023. Khawaja’s stellar performances throughout the year were instrumental in Australia achieving their maiden ICC World Test Championship title.

The left-handed batsman had a great start to the year and carried forward his form from last season by scoring a career-best unbeaten 195 against South Africa.

Not afraid of challenges, Khawaja showcased his potential during the series against India, and emerged as the top run-scorer with an impressive performance of 333 runs in four matches, which included a century and two half-centuries.

Facing a rare setback in the World Test Championship final, Khawaja made a strong comeback during the Ashes against England, and once again became the leading run-scorer in the series with 496 runs. His key contributions included key partnerships with Travis Head, Cameron Green and Alex Carey, demonstrating his ability to handle pressure situations with composure.

Khawaja’s extraordinary year reached its peak with three scores of 40 plus against Pakistan, finishing with a total of 1,210 runs for the year. Notably, he stood alone as the only player to break the four-figure mark for Test runs in the challenging but rewarding year of 2023.

The left-hander’s standout performances included crucial centuries against South Africa (195 not out) and India (180), but his best performance came against arch-rivals England in the Ashes.

In the opening Test, after a surprise declaration at 393/8, Khawaja’s resilient century played a crucial role in Australia’s chase of England’s target. His determination and skill were also evident in the second innings, where he batted with composure to score 65 runs off 197 balls and lay the foundation for a memorable Ashes victory.

For his impressive century and vital contribution in the second innings, Khawaja rightly earned the Player of the Match accolade, adding yet another feather to his cap.

–IANS

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