Usman Khawaja averages 52.87 in home Tests: Decoding the stats
Australia's seasoned opener Usman Khawaja will be instrumental to his side's success in the upcoming five-Test series against India, starting on November 22 at Perth's Optus Stadium. Notably, the southpaw is on the cusp of becoming the country's oldest Test cricketer in more than two decades. He will turn 38 in December. Meanwhile, here we look at his Test stats on home soil.
An average of 50-plus in home Tests
As per ESPNcricinfo, Khawaja has mustered 2,855 runs across 36 home Tests at 52.87. Nine of his 15 Test tons have come at home. The tally also includes 13 fifties. 1,018 of his runs at home have come as an opener. He averages a brilliant 50.90 in this regard. Khawaja's tally of 1,001 Test runs at home is the most for any Australian since 2022 (Average: 52.68).
Khawaja's ambition to win Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Despite his stellar 13-year Test career, Khawaja has never won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with Australia. However, he is hopeful about Australia's chances against India in the upcoming series Down Under. The southpaw has tallied 544 runs across nine Tests against India, averaging just 34 (50s: 3, 100: 1). 198 of these runs have come in Australia at 28.28.
Khawaja's impressive return to Test cricket
Despite being dropped from the Australian Test squad ahead of the 2019/20 summer, Khawaja made a stunning comeback in the 2021/22 Ashes series. Since then, he has been Australia's leading run-scorer in Test cricket with 2,564 runs at an average of 53.41, including seven centuries and 12 fifties. Only England's Joe Root (3,223) has outscored him in this period.
A look at his overall Test numbers
Khawaja made his Test debut in 2011. He has aggregated 5,451 runs in 73 matches at 45.80. He has slammed 15 hundreds and 26 fifties, with the best score of 195* (versus South Africa). The southpaw has scored 2,354 and 242 runs at away and neutral venues, averaging 39.23 and 48.40, respectively. Khawaja averages 54.03 as a Test opener, having mustered 2,810 runs.
Most Test runs for Australia after 35th birthday
As per Fox Cricket, Khawaja has the most Test runs for Australia after the 35th birthday. The senior opener, with 2,564 runs, is just ahead of Steve Waugh (2,554). No other Australian has more than 2,500 runs in this regard.
