Keith Miller, the World War II fighter pilot who was also Bradman's star all-rounder, once described pressure as "having a Messerschmitt up your arse". Usman Khawaja may not be in the same league but he once recounted an aerial adventure that should make the pressure of batting in a pulsating BBL final at the MCG a lark.
In 2011 Khawaja recalled flying a Piper Warrior thousands of feet above the closest cricket pitch when the throttle of his craft broke clear of its socket. The small plane was battered by the notorious turbulence that can make flying over the Great Dividing Range a horrific experience for even the most seasoned of pilots.
![On top of the world: Thunder batsman Usman Khawaja.](/web/20160702035013im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/c/h/j/z/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gmcgqw.png/1453636776729.jpg)
Khawaja, who had logged 180 hours of solo flying, remembered the initial panic of trying to desperately screw the instrument back into place before channelling the improvisation pioneers such as Bert Hinkler, Ross Smith and Charles Kingsford Smith were famous for.
"The throttle came out in my hand and it refused to go back in … but there was a little [prong] of the lever sticking out," Khawaja said. "It scared the life out of me, though."
It's little wonder Khawaja, who used the prong to get home safely, says he doesn't take the game too seriously. Following some testing times after being dropped from the Australian team a few years ago, he's in the throes of a tremendous purple patch.
Apart from dominating in the Tests he played in against New Zealand and the West Indies, the 29-year-old has needed only three knocks to establish himself as the BBL's fourth-ranked run-scorer behind Chris Lynn, Travis Head and his skipper – Michael Hussey – who have all played at least eight matches.
While plenty of people are pushing for him to play in all three formats of the game for Australia, Khawaja said he is motivated by only one thing as a member of the Thunder.
"You try and do as well as you can for your team, try and make as many runs as you can, because there'll be times when I don't make runs and hopefully [on] those times Shane Watson, Mike Hussey or whoever makes up the runs , he said before Sunday's final against the Stars.
"You can't score runs every time you go out there but I'm just really grateful that I am at the moment."
His efforts to score 109 not out, 62 and a commanding 104 not out have amazed his teammates.
"He's playing a different game at the moment, isn't he?" Hussey enthused. "I'm glad he's on our team, he's just so relaxed, so clear in his mind and playing his shots. It's so wonderful to watch."
The Thunder's strike bowler Clint Mckay admired how Khawaja's innings against the Strikers mixed beauty with brutality.
"He knew when to attack and when to go into his shell," said McKay. "He's a massive one for us and you can see by the way he goes about his business and the way he plays for us it co-relates with how he's gone all summer with the Australian team."
Khawaja made it clear he and his teammates share a genuine belief that they can win the title.
"The belief was there as soon as we got in the top four," he said. "We were only two games away from winning and what we do have in the sheds is a lot of experience with Watson, Hussey, even Jacques Kallis might be a chance to come back for the final.
"Then you obviously have Dre Russ [Andre Russell], who has played a lot of T20 cricket. In big games experience counts for a lot because those guys have been there and done it. I think that's the one thing we're sticking to and hoping will get us through to [win] the final."
0 comments
New User? Sign up