Khawaja ready for test debut but not to replace Ponting

The free-scoring, fast-quipping, guitar-playing,   blog-savvy lefthander was named in Australia’s 12-man squad   for the Sydney test yesterday and is almost certain to   replace injured captain Ricky Ponting in the top order.

Ponting, the second most prolific batsman in test history,   is being rested to allow his fractured finger to recuperate   and Khawaja was not thinking any further than the five days   next week when Australia hope to level the Ashes series at 2-2.

“I’m not really here to fill Ricky Ponting’s shoes, I’m   there to go out and do as well as possible and put my team in   the best place possible and that means score runs,” he told   reporters yesterday.

“Other than that, there’s not really much more that I can  do than just enjoy my cricket. To replace 12,000 runs, that’s  a big feat and I still haven’t scored any so I’d better go out   and score my first one first.”

“Ricky’s a legendary cricketer and a legend of a bloke …   he’s the kind of guy, if he told me to jump off a bridge, I   probably would,” Khawaja, who is normally an opener, added.

“Me taking over Ricky’s place? I highly doubt that. I’m   just happy to get the opportunity while he’s unfortunately   injured and hopefully we can get out there and level the   series.”

Born in Pakistan to a cricket-enthusiast father who   subsequently took his family to Australia, Khawaja has been  accumulating runs since making his debut for New South Wales   two years ago and boasts a first class average of 51.7.

He was called up to the test squad for the series against   Pakistan in England earlier this year, and again when Michael   Clarke was an injury worry before the first Ashes test, but   failed to get a game.

FIRST NAME
Khawaja was still always the first name bandied about when   replacements were being considered for injured or failing   batsmen and has long said he was ready.