Mitchell Johnson slams Usman Khawaja for giving a ‘pre-excuse for failure’ after struggling vs India

Mitchell Johnson has criticiesd Usman Khawaja for offering a ‘pre-excuse for failure’ after falling cheaply in both innings against India in the World Test Championship final.

The 36-year-old was out for a duck in the first innings at The Oval and made just 13 in the second dig before being dismissed. 

It was a disappointing return for a man who arrived in England averaging 69.9 in the 17 Tests he played since returning to the Aussie team halfway through the 2021-22 Ashes series as a Covid replacement for Travis Head.

But Johnson believes Khawaja only has himself to blame after admitting last month he had ‘low expectations’ ahead of the upcoming Ashes series after struggling in his tours of England in 2013 and 2019. 

‘It’s a mindset I would question ahead of any series, let alone one as big as the Ashes,’ the former fast bowler wrote in his column for The West Australian.

Usman Khawaja has struggled with the bat in England, where he averages just 17.7 

The Aussie opener was out for a duck and 13 in the WTC final against India 

Mitchell Johnson has criticised Khawaja’s approach ahead of the Ashes

‘It feels like a pre-excuse for failure. 

‘Your top four batters should be supremely confident and project that through the media. 

‘Don’t give the Poms an inch.’

Khawaja averages 17.7 in 14 innings in England, with his highest score of 54 coming 10 years ago in the second innings of the second Test at Lord’s – his first appearance on English soil.

The veteran opener made a combined 46 runs in four innings in the next two Tests of the 2013 series and he averaged 20.3 in the first three Tests of the 2019 series before being dropped.

‘England is, in my opinion, the toughest place in the world to bat for top-three batsmen,’ he said last month.

‘If I’ve learned anything, it is work hard, train hard and going to England, go with low expectations.’

Johnson acknowledged opening the batting in England was a difficult assignment, but insisted Khawaja’s role as one of the more experienced heads in the team was to exude confidence to his teammates.  

‘Yes, the conditions can be tough in England as an opener, we all know that,’ he said. 

‘But when it comes to professional sport, your teammates and supporters want to hear something more positive.

‘Uzzie [Khawaja] can be pretty frank with the media. 

‘I’m sure deep down he will feel ready for the Ashes and be able to top off what has been a great comeback story.’

Khawaja was dropped after the third Test of the 2019 Ashes series at Headingley

Khawaja has been a rock at the top of the order for Australia, since returning to team as Covid replacement for Head for the New Year’s Day Test of the 2021-22 Ashes in Sydney. 

He hit two double tons on his return at the SCG and followed it up two months later with a 160 in Karachi and a 106 not out in Lahore in Australia’s first series win in Pakistan in 24 years.

The form has carried into this year, with an unbeaten 195 against South Africa at the SCG and a mammoth 180 in Ahmedabad. 

In the 17 Tests he played since returning before the World Test Championship final, Khawaja averages 69.9 and will have a crucial role to play if Australia are to retain the Ashes for a fourth time.