Latest news with #Khawaja
The Age
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
New cycle, old questions: Australia's big ‘reset' in the Caribbean
Who will open? This is not a new conundrum. Since the 2023 Ashes, when David Warner's powers were waning, Australia have struggled to settle on an opening combination. They would certainly love to have that locked in before the Ashes. Usman Khawaja, who turned 38 late last year, is the oldest player in the squad and the only certainty at the top of the order. Coach Andrew McDonald says he has faith that Khawaja can be there for the Ashes. Khawaja's outstanding knock of 232 in Sri Lanka came after just one half century in his previous 15 innings. However, pitches in the West Indies will be more low and slow like Galle than Australian venues in the summer, which should suit Khawaja. A left-field option – albeit unlikely – could be that Australia open with Travis Head and Sam Konstas in the West Indies and move Khawaja down the order. It's something Khawaja would no doubt be open to given his shaky record against high-quality pace bowling of late and the fact he was never a specialist opener to begin with. The first winds of change came on a warm Thursday afternoon in Barbados via Australia's head selector George Bailey, who confirmed Marnus Labuschagne would be axed from the XI, Steve Smith's finger wouldn't be right for the first Test, and that Konstas and Inglis would play the first match of the tour. It was no secret that Labuschagne's brief promotion to open in the WTC final was a one-off and Konstas will want to deliver on the hype that has followed him. There is certainly a lot for a player with a first-class average of 34.89 from 17 matches. Even one breakthrough century on this tour would be more valuable from a confidence perspective than any number of Shield scores against state attacks. It would appear likely that Konstas will be given all three Tests to prove himself. Konstas has already toured Sri Lanka and the UK with the Test squad and is ready for another chance. He will want to make an irresistible case before the Shield season. The Smith (and Labuschagne) headache Smith won't feature in the opening Test in Barbados due to an injured finger but remains a chance to return for the second match in Grenada. Australia will have their first proper training session on Saturday in Barbados. That leaves a hole at No.4, Smith's preferred spot, which Cameron Green could easily fill given he scored a century against New Zealand in that position. Labuschagne, whose Test average still sits north of 46, had not made a century in his last 30 Test innings. He would have known his chance of staying in the team were slim. Not even Smith's absence was able to buy Labuschagne one more match. His best chance of a Test recall will be through a mountain of runs in the Sheffield Shield for Queensland. Inglis' debut Test century in Galle showed he is a player of real promise and is being viewed as the next batter in line. He could very well slot into No.3 but has scored most of his runs in the middle order. The emergence of all-rounder Beau Webster has also complicated things. Webster's ability to contribute with bat and ball has kept him firmly in the XI, and unless Australia drop a specialist bowler, there may not be room to squeeze in Inglis in a situation where Smith is fit for the second Test. Two spinners or Boland over Hazlewood? This is one of the most intriguing calls of the tour. With dry, turning pitches expected, there's a case for playing both Lyon and Kuhnemann in the same Test XI – a tactic Australia last embraced in Sri Lanka. Lyon is a lock, but Kuhnemann's control and left-arm angle offer variety. If selectors go with two spinners, one of the seamers likely misses out. That brings us to the Hazlewood against Boland debate which has bubbled away for years. Hazlewood's red-ball record is outstanding, but match figures of 1-85 at Lord's were not what he would have been hoping for. Boland, meanwhile, hasn't quite replicated his home form overseas – he averages 132.5 with the ball outside of Australia – but offers precision and patience, which could be useful on flat Caribbean pitches that reward accuracy over pace. Hazlewood is likely to get the nod. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc is in line to play his 100th Test in the third match of the series in Kingston, Jamaica. But if he were to sit out a game for whatever reason, bringing up his 100th Test in the opening Ashes Test on home soil would be fitting for the stalwart of this Australian side. How strong will the West Indies be? Due to scheduling and COVID-19, Australia haven't played a Test in the West Indies since 2015. The XI for the second and final Test of that series in Kingston was: Warner, Shaun Marsh, Smith, Michael Clarke (c), Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson, plus the trio of Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon. Since then, the West Indies have won 21 of 76 Tests. At home, their record is slightly better (32 per cent), but still inconsistent. The West Indies did win the last Test they played against Australia at the Gabba in early 2024, thanks to a career-defining bowling performance from Shamar Joseph. Just the one win from nine Tests since then – it came against Bangladesh – doesn't leave a lot of hope for the locals. Loading Even so, this isn't a series the visitors can afford to take lightly. The West Indies will see the initial absence of Smith, uncertainty at the top of the order, and potential experimentation with the ball as an opportunity to land a surprise win or two. All eyes on England vs India Overshadowing Australia's Caribbean tour, at least from a global perspective, is the five-Test blockbuster between England and India, which begins on Friday at Headingley. Australia will certainly be keeping one eye on the series given their next Test opponent is England in November.
Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
New cycle, old questions: Australia's big ‘reset' in the Caribbean
Who will open? This is not a new conundrum. Since the 2023 Ashes, when David Warner's powers were waning, Australia have struggled to settle on an opening combination. They would certainly love to have that locked in before the Ashes. Usman Khawaja, who turned 38 late last year, is the oldest player in the squad and the only certainty at the top of the order. Coach Andrew McDonald says he has faith that Khawaja can be there for the Ashes. Khawaja's outstanding knock of 232 in Sri Lanka came after just one half century in his previous 15 innings. However, pitches in the West Indies will be more low and slow like Galle than Australian venues in the summer, which should suit Khawaja. A left-field option – albeit unlikely – could be that Australia open with Travis Head and Sam Konstas in the West Indies and move Khawaja down the order. It's something Khawaja would no doubt be open to given his shaky record against high-quality pace bowling of late and the fact he was never a specialist opener to begin with. The first winds of change came on a warm Thursday afternoon in Barbados via Australia's head selector George Bailey, who confirmed Marnus Labuschagne would be axed from the XI, Steve Smith's finger wouldn't be right for the first Test, and that Konstas and Inglis would play the first match of the tour. It was no secret that Labuschagne's brief promotion to open in the WTC final was a one-off and Konstas will want to deliver on the hype that has followed him. There is certainly a lot for a player with a first-class average of 34.89 from 17 matches. Even one breakthrough century on this tour would be more valuable from a confidence perspective than any number of Shield scores against state attacks. It would appear likely that Konstas will be given all three Tests to prove himself. Konstas has already toured Sri Lanka and the UK with the Test squad and is ready for another chance. He will want to make an irresistible case before the Shield season. The Smith (and Labuschagne) headache Smith won't feature in the opening Test in Barbados due to an injured finger but remains a chance to return for the second match in Grenada. Australia will have their first proper training session on Saturday in Barbados. That leaves a hole at No.4, Smith's preferred spot, which Cameron Green could easily fill given he scored a century against New Zealand in that position. Labuschagne, whose Test average still sits north of 46, had not made a century in his last 30 Test innings. He would have known his chance of staying in the team were slim. Not even Smith's absence was able to buy Labuschagne one more match. His best chance of a Test recall will be through a mountain of runs in the Sheffield Shield for Queensland. Inglis' debut Test century in Galle showed he is a player of real promise and is being viewed as the next batter in line. He could very well slot into No.3 but has scored most of his runs in the middle order. The emergence of all-rounder Beau Webster has also complicated things. Webster's ability to contribute with bat and ball has kept him firmly in the XI, and unless Australia drop a specialist bowler, there may not be room to squeeze in Inglis in a situation where Smith is fit for the second Test. Two spinners or Boland over Hazlewood? This is one of the most intriguing calls of the tour. With dry, turning pitches expected, there's a case for playing both Lyon and Kuhnemann in the same Test XI – a tactic Australia last embraced in Sri Lanka. Lyon is a lock, but Kuhnemann's control and left-arm angle offer variety. If selectors go with two spinners, one of the seamers likely misses out. That brings us to the Hazlewood against Boland debate which has bubbled away for years. Hazlewood's red-ball record is outstanding, but match figures of 1-85 at Lord's were not what he would have been hoping for. Boland, meanwhile, hasn't quite replicated his home form overseas – he averages 132.5 with the ball outside of Australia – but offers precision and patience, which could be useful on flat Caribbean pitches that reward accuracy over pace. Hazlewood is likely to get the nod. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc is in line to play his 100th Test in the third match of the series in Kingston, Jamaica. But if he were to sit out a game for whatever reason, bringing up his 100th Test in the opening Ashes Test on home soil would be fitting for the stalwart of this Australian side. How strong will the West Indies be? Due to scheduling and COVID-19, Australia haven't played a Test in the West Indies since 2015. The XI for the second and final Test of that series in Kingston was: Warner, Shaun Marsh, Smith, Michael Clarke (c), Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson, plus the trio of Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon. Since then, the West Indies have won 21 of 76 Tests. At home, their record is slightly better (32 per cent), but still inconsistent. The West Indies did win the last Test they played against Australia at the Gabba in early 2024, thanks to a career-defining bowling performance from Shamar Joseph. Just the one win from nine Tests since then – it came against Bangladesh – doesn't leave a lot of hope for the locals. Loading Even so, this isn't a series the visitors can afford to take lightly. The West Indies will see the initial absence of Smith, uncertainty at the top of the order, and potential experimentation with the ball as an opportunity to land a surprise win or two. All eyes on England vs India Overshadowing Australia's Caribbean tour, at least from a global perspective, is the five-Test blockbuster between England and India, which begins on Friday at Headingley. Australia will certainly be keeping one eye on the series given their next Test opponent is England in November.
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Ministry aims to boost IT exports to $15bn by 2029: Shaza
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said her ministry was determined to achieve the target of elevating the country's IT exports to $15 billion by 2029. She underlined that a future-ready human resource is the key component for achievement of this target. Khawaja reiterated the government's commitment to facilitating the academia, industry and all relevant stakeholders in removing the hurdles blocking the employability of computing graduates. The minister was addressing a national conference titled, 'Zero-Day Employability of Computing Graduates' organised by Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan in collaboration with MoIT&T and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) on Thursday. Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Secretary MoIT&T Zarraz Hasham Khan, vice chancellors of a large number of universities, faculty members, and IT industry representatives attended the conference. Khawaja emphasised the need for economic impact in the country through digital transformation by unlocking the country's IT potential. She highlighted that Pakistan is blessed with talented youth and there is a need to hone this asset. She noted it is the high time for introspection, identification of challenges, and exploitation of strengths to set a right direction. She said the government is cognisant of the challenges; however, it is pivotal to be on the path of addressing the challenges. She asserted that, 'conferences are literally determining the future of Pakistan.' She urged the universities to prepare the youth for the future technological advancements and produce graduates who make the IT sector viable. She underlined the significance of rewarding and penalizing the universities for the performance in order to materialise the vision of IT sector's growth. There is, she noted, a tsunami of change wherein everything has been automated. She made a collective call to action to come out of the existing structures and propose innovative interventions. Chairman HEC Dr Ahmed highlighted HEC's measures to bridge the gap of liabilities in the IT sector. He said that academia-industry linkages are a vital means to cope up with the industry's hampered growth, as it is high time to upgrade the systems. He informed the audience that HEC has developed a new Computing Education curriculum and has shared it with the universities for adoption. He said that the curriculum is based 80 percent on hands-on skills. He hoped that it will open up a window for employability of graduates. The chairman highlighted that Pakistani youth have been achieving huge success in the Huawei Imagine Cup competitions. He said the country's youth has a great potential in all the areas including technology. He added that the Pakistani university graduates and the HEC scholarship recipients are playing their appreciable role in taking up Pakistan in the technological sphere. Secretary MoIT&T Zarrar Hashim Khan shared a detailed presentation on the National IT Roadmap drafted in consultation and deliberations with stakeholders. He pointed out the key challenges in the IT industry triggering low exports such as systemic and structural issues, educational and skill development issues, and workplace and industry dynamics. 'If we do not address them structurally, we will lag behind,' he emphasised. He also presented recommendations to put in action for sectoral growth, including having a standardized testing mechanism, skill-based certification courses integrated with curricula, and work with industry by final year students. He stressed the need for academic and workforce readiness and strong collaboration between the IT industry and academics to address employability gap. He underlined that the industry's productivity and a remarkable increase in consistent exports are among the top objectives to be followed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Captain Cummins flags Australia shake-up
Captain Pat Cummins during a post-match interview after the World Test Championship final defeat against South Africa. Photo: AFP/File Australia could shake up their batting after crashing to South Africa in the World Test Championship final, with captain Pat Cummins saying a "reset" was needed ahead of three Tests in the West Indies and a home Ashes series. The five-wicket defeat at Lord's on Saturday, after posting a 74-run first-innings lead, has renewed focus on Australia's top order which has struggled since opener David Warner retired 17 months ago. The elevation of out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne as Usman Khawaja's fifth opening partner since Warner bowed out did not work, while the experiment of Cameron Green at three flopped. The 38-year-old Khawaja is also under the microscope, scoring nought and six as his lean spell against pace continued. Green made four in the first innings and lasted only two balls before departing for a duck in the second as the new-look top three managed a total of 49 runs in the match. Australia's batting woes were laid bare, particularly in the second innings, when only a plucky unbeaten fifty from fast-bowler Mitchell Starc and 43 from wicketkeeper Alex Carey gave the Proteas a tough chase. "There's probably quite a few people in the line-up that wish they could have done a little bit more," Cummins told reporters. "The top three was an obvious one in this game." Fresh start With the 2027 WTC cycle kicking off when Australia travel to the West Indies for a three-Test series beginning in Barbados on June 25, the skipper admitted "it does feel like a little bit of a fresh start". "We've got a couple of weeks before the first Test in the Windies, so we'll sit down and have a bit of a think after we digest this game," he said. "But for me, I think a new WTC cycle in some ways does feel like a bit of a reset. "It's probably more for the selectors and for me to sit down and map it ahead." Compounding Australia's woes, veteran Steve Smith, who hit a majestic first innings' 66, is doubtful for the first West Indies Test after dislocating his finger. If he is ruled out, gung-ho teenager Sam Konstas, who played two Tests against India last summer before being dropped, could slot back in alongside Khawaja. That would allow Labuschagne to drop back to three, should he survive the axe after averaging just 25.63 in Tests during the 2024/25 season. There is also the option of Josh Inglis, who was in the WTC squad, as an opener. Australian media made it clear that change was needed, with The Australian newspaper calling the defeat a "wake-up call" with the five-Test Ashes series against England beginning in November. "Father Time is undefeated and selectors must now be decisive over key calls for the future," it said. Cummins acknowledged all cards were on the table with only five months to go until the first Ashes Test in Perth beginning on November 20. "Coming to this match, you've got guys like Sam Konstas and Scotty Boland and Josh Inglis, all those guys were right on the fringes," he said. "So I think again, after this Test match, everyone gets thrown back into the conversation."
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Cummins flags Australia shake-up after WTC defeat as Ashes loom
Australia could shake up their batting after crashing to South Africa in the World Test Championship final, with captain Pat Cummins saying a 'reset' was needed ahead of three Tests in the West Indies and a home Ashes series. The five-wicket defeat at Lord's on Saturday, after posting a 74-run first-innings lead, has renewed focus on Australia's top order which has struggled since opener David Warner retired 17 months ago. The elevation of out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne as Usman Khawaja's fifth opening partner since Warner bowed out did not work, while the experiment of Cameron Green at three flopped. The 38-year-old Khawaja is also under the microscope, scoring nought and six as his lean spell against pace continued. Green made four in the first innings and lasted only two balls before departing for a duck in the second as the new-look top three managed a total of 49 runs in the match. Australia's batting woes were laid bare, particularly in the second innings, when only a plucky unbeaten fifty from fast-bowler Mitchell Starc and 43 from wicketkeeper Alex Carey gave the Proteas a tough chase. 'There's probably quite a few people in the line-up that wish they could have done a little bit more,' Cummins told reporters. 'The top three was an obvious one in this game.' Fresh start With the 2027 WTC cycle kicking off when Australia travel to the West Indies for a threeTest series beginning in Barbados on June 25, the skipper admitted 'it does feel like a little bit of a fresh start'. 'We've got a couple of weeks before the first Test in the Windies, so we'll sit down and have a bit of a think after we digest this game,' he said. 'But for me, I think a new WTC cycle in some ways does feel like a bit of a reset. 'It's probably more for the selectors and for me to sit down and map it ahead.' Compounding Australia's woes, veteran Steve Smith, who hit a majestic first innings' 66, is doubtful for the first West Indies Test after dislocating his finger. If he is ruled out, gung-ho teenager Sam Konstas, who played two Tests against India last summer before being dropped, could slot back in alongside Khawaja. That would allow Labuschagne to drop back to three, should he survive the axe after averaging just 25.63 in Tests during the 2024/25 season. There is also the option of Josh Inglis, who was in the WTC squad, as an opener.
