New Delhi: Australian batter Usman Khawaja achieved a new milestone as he became the first Australian batter in 3 years to complete 1,000 runs in a calendar year in Test cricket on Thursday. He reached the feat when he crossed 40 on Day 1 of the 2nd Test. It was Pink Ball Test between Australia and West Indies at the Adelaide Oval.
The left-hander is only the third batter to reach the landmark in Test cricket in 2022 after England star Joe Root (1069) and Jonny Bairstow (1061). Marnus Labuschagne, was once reached the No.1 spot in Test cricket rankings after he made double hundred and hundred in the first Test against West Indies in Perth. In 2019, He was the last Kangaroo batter who amassed more than 1000 Test runs.
As a left-hand batsman, Khawaja has smashed four centuries and as many half-centuries in 2022. He started this year by scoring hundreds in both innings in the Sydney Test in the Ashes. He also had a brilliant tour to Pakistan where he ended up scoring two hundred and as many fifties.
Most Test runs in 2022:
Joe Root (England) has 1069 runs in 13 matches.
Jonny Bairstow (England) scored 1061 runs in 10 matches.
Usman Khawaja (Australia) made 1008* in 9 matches.
Babar Azam (Pakistan) amassed 801 runs in 6 matches.
Zak Crawley (England) got 781 runs in 13 matches.
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
Squads:
West Indies Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite(c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Nkrumah Bonner, Devon Thomas, Kyle Mayers, Joshua Da Silva(w), Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Raymon Reifer, Jason Holder, Jermaine Blackwood, Shamarh Brooks, Anderson Phillip.
Australia Squad: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Marcus Harris.