Don't know why you need to score fast: Khawaja defends McSweeney's SR

Australian opener Usman Khawaja tried to downplay strike rate in Test cricket defending the slow batting of Nathan McSweeney, who will debut for the Baggy Greens in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 as the second opener. 

McSweeney, who will be essentially seen as replacing David Warner, a fast and furious opener, strikes in the 40s in First-Class cricket. Khawaja, who will be partnering him at the Optus Stadium in Perth when the first Test begins on November 22, said that Test cricket is a five-day affair and there is no fuss about scoring quickly. 

"I don't know where this myth started that you need someone to score fast to do well. You've got five days to do it...I don't know why you need to score fast,” Khawaja was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. 

"Opening's as much about scoring runs as it is about being able to absorb. Davey was special; he could score runs while absorbing but he didn't do it [score fast] every time. He was consistent; out there and setting a platform, and Nathan does that very well,” added the 37-year-old. 

Asked what McSweeney could do differently at the international level to handle the pressure of Test cricket, Khawaja, who has experience of 73 Tests, said that his former Queensland teammate doesn’t need to do anything different. 

“He doesn't have to do anything different. Just repeat the process. He's been able to handle the pressure at Shield level.

When you look at his demeanour, the way he plays, you do kind of feel over a longer period he'll be able to handle the scrutiny, the pressure of Test cricket,” said the man with 5451 runs and 15 centuries to his name in the longest format. 

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