Derbyshire rope in Usman Khawaja for 2011 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club have signed Australia’s brightest young hope, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 as their overseas player for the first half of the 2011 county season.
The 24-year-old Pakistan-born is still waiting for a No Objection Certificate from Cricket Australia. He, however, is expected to be with the county from the beginning of 2011 campaign until conclusion of the domestic Twenty20 competition,
Friends Provident T20 tournament.
In 2009-10, Derbyshire had the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Middlesex-c817.
The Derbyshire head of cricket, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Chris-Rogers-c1249 are gone because we wouldn't be able to get a work permit for him now.”
Morris was excited over signing Usman for the first half of upcoming season and called him an ‘ideal’ capture for the county.
“He has scored runs consistently for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 and is a very entertaining player to watch," said Morris. "His record in first-class cricket is very good and the signs are there that he is a talented player who can score runs
in all forms of the game,” he added further.
After waiting on the sidelines for half a year, the 24-year-old left-handed batsman became the first Muslim to earn a baggy green when he made his Test debut against England in the final Ashes Test at Sydney in January 2011. Khawaja
batted at No. 3 in place of injured captain Ricky Ponting and returned with modest 37 and 21 but the poise and temperament he showed during both the innings was warmly welcomed by the Australian media desperate for a glimmer of optimism.
His call-up came after an impressive start to the season with the Blues, averaging almost 75 from six Sheffield Shield games, which included one of his finest first-class innings of 214 runs against Redbacks in October 2010.
The Islamabad-born has an average of 50.61 in first-class cricket with six centuries and 10 half-centuries from only 28 matches. His move to Derbyshire would be a key stage in his cricket tutoring. Morris was also hopeful that playing
county cricket will help Khawaja in his development as a successful international cricketer.
“Successful stints in county cricket have played an integral part in the development of many successful Australian cricketers and I'm sure Usman will benefit hugely from this experience,” he said.
During his 6-month stint with the club, Khawaja will play eight Championship games, six Clydesdale Bank 40 fixtures and all Twenty20 group matches of the Friends Provident T20 tournament.
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