Queensland cricket contract list: Usman Khawaja signs on
Test batsman Usman Khawaja has agreed to play on with the Queensland Bulls despite his stunning late season clash with Joe Dawes.
Khawaja has been named on the Queensland Bulls player list as one of three players contracted by Cricket Australia who will play for the Bulls next summer.
The veteran batsman had a major falling out with Bulls director of cricket Dawes who publicly criticised Khawaja for not being available for the final Sheffield Shield regular round match against South Australia.
Khawaja was upset by the criticism and it is believed the duo have not spoken since.
But following talks with Queensland Cricket boss Terry Svenson, Khawaja has agreed to stay on for what could be the final season of his first class career.
In a season which features five Ashes Tests, Khawaja may only play two or three Shield games.
Young pace bowlers Tom Whitney and Tom Straker, who showed promise in their debut first class summers, have been promoted to full contracts. Straker, 19, claimed 12 wickets in five Shield games while Whitney bagged 11 in three.
Queensland's pace depth has been bolstered with former Australian under-19 quick Tom Balkin gaining a contract for the first time.
Three players – fast man Lian Guthrie who has lined with Northamptonshire, Bryce Street and Connor Sully, have dropped out of the squad.
Originally published as Usman Khawaja agrees to stay with Queensland Bulls after feud with Joe Dawes
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
14 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Wounded Woakes' Ashes availability unclear
A specialist will determine the Ashes availability of wounded Englishman Chris Woakes after his brave attempt to secure victory against India. Woakes dislocated his shoulder early in the fifth Test at the Oval but courageously walked to the crease with his arm in a sling on day five. He didn't face a ball but was prepared to counter the Mohammed Siraj-inspired Indian attack left handed. Despite struggling in Australia – averaging 51 with the ball Down Under – Woakes would still be one of England's first-choice quicks for the upcoming Ashes. England captain Ben Stokes said Woakes was yet to see a specialist as he remained intent on seeing out the fifth Test. But that specialist would decide whether the 36-year-old pushed a case for the first Test in November at Perth Stadium. 'You obviously don't get that chance (to see a specialist) with a game going on, so that (availability for the Ashes) won't be known until later,' Stokes said. Woakes did not bat in the first innings but walked to the middle when England needed 17 to win the Test match. He followed the courageous efforts of Graeme Smith, Nathan Lyon, Dean Jones and Rick McCosker who have all batted under extreme duress. Stokes said he had no doubt Woakes would bat if required and claimed it emblematic of the unrelenting series. 'Unbelievable, but it was never going to be a question for him to be out there, he was in a lot of discomfort running between the wickets there,' Stokes said. 'We've had guys go out, Rishabh (Pant) going out and batting with a broken foot, Bash (Bashir) bowling and fielding with a broken finger. 'Then Chris going out there today trying to get the team over the line with a recently dislocated shoulder. 'It just goes back to how much energy and effort has been put into the series by both teams, everyone has left a lot out on the grounds for their country this series. 'I didn't give him a chance to give him a tap on the back and say, 'Go well', but coming off there it was pretty obvious what was said. '(I said) 'Good effort' and unbelievable, he just shrugged his shoulder and said, 'I wouldn't do anything else'.'
News.com.au
33 minutes ago
- News.com.au
England captain Ben Stokes on the Ashes availability of seamer Chris Woakes
A specialist will determine the Ashes availability of wounded Englishman Chris Woakes after his brave attempt to secure victory against India. Woakes dislocated his shoulder early in the fifth Test at the Oval but courageously walked to the crease with his arm in a sling on day five. He didn't face a ball but was prepared to counter the Mohammed Siraj-inspired Indian attack left handed. Despite struggling in Australia – averaging 51 with the ball Down Under – Woakes would still be one of England's first-choice quicks for the upcoming Ashes. England captain Ben Stokes said Woakes was yet to see a specialist as he remained intent on seeing out the fifth Test. But that specialist would decide whether the 36-year-old pushed a case for the first Test in November at Perth Stadium. 'You obviously don't get that chance (to see a specialist) with a game going on, so that (availability for the Ashes) won't be known until later,' Stokes said. Woakes did not bat in the first innings but walked to the middle when England needed 17 to win the Test match. He followed the courageous efforts of Graeme Smith, Nathan Lyon, Dean Jones and Rick McCosker who have all batted under extreme duress. Stokes said he had no doubt Woakes would bat if required and claimed it emblematic of the unrelenting series. 'Unbelievable, but it was never going to be a question for him to be out there, he was in a lot of discomfort running between the wickets there,' Stokes said. 'We've had guys go out, Rishabh (Pant) going out and batting with a broken foot, Bash (Bashir) bowling and fielding with a broken finger. 'Then Chris going out there today trying to get the team over the line with a recently dislocated shoulder. 'It just goes back to how much energy and effort has been put into the series by both teams, everyone has left a lot out on the grounds for their country this series. 'I didn't give him a chance to give him a tap on the back and say, 'Go well', but coming off there it was pretty obvious what was said. '(I said) 'Good effort' and unbelievable, he just shrugged his shoulder and said, 'I wouldn't do anything else'.'
News.com.au
44 minutes ago
- News.com.au
England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller
England suffered an agonising six-run loss to India at the Oval on Monday as one of the most dramatic Test series of recent times ended in a 2-2 draw. Their next major red-ball assignment is a five-match Ashes series away to arch-rivals Australia -- where England have gone 15 Tests without a win -- starting in November. Below AFP Sport looks at some of the key issues that emerged from England's rollercoaster contest with India and what they mean for their quest to regain the Ashes 'Down Under'. Stokes central to England's hopes What England gain from having Ben Stokes in their side was never more evident than when their inspirational captain missed the fifth Test with a shoulder injury -- a fresh worry following his history of hamstring trouble. The 34-year-old all-rounder was the most threatening member of England's attack against India, taking 17 wickets at 25 in 140 overs -- the most he has bowled in a series. Stokes also looked back to his best with the bat, scoring 141 in England's mammoth total of 669 in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. By contrast specialist opener Zak Crawley failed to reach three figures in nine innings. And at the Oval, the sight of vice-captain Ollie Pope running off to the dressing room to receive what appeared to be tactical guidance from Stokes did not say much for England's depth of leadership. England limited-overs captain Harry Brook, also a mainstay of the Test team and a lively skipper in the Stokes mould, could yet prove a better fit as vice-captain against Australia. Fast-bowling plan under threat England have long believed a battery of genuinely fast bowlers is essential if they are to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since 2010/11. But fitness issues could blight their best-laid plans. Jofra Archer made an encouraging return to Test cricket against India but played just two matches as England looked to manage the express paceman's workload. Mark Wood, another bowler with genuine pace, has not played Test cricket for nearly 12 months and had knee surgery earlier this year. The inconsistent Josh Tongue's return of 19 wickets at under 30 in the India series could well see him selected for Ashes duty, with Gus Atkinson's five-wicket haul on his return to Test duty at the Oval doing his cause no harm. Spin dilemma England, and Stokes in particular, have shown huge faith in Shoaib Bashir, a 21-year-old off-spinner unable to hold down a regular place in a county side but who has now taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests at 39. In the India series, Bashir's 10 wickets came at an expensive average of 54.1, before a finger injury ruled him out of the last two Tests. But Hampshire stalwart Liam Dawson failed to seize his chance in the drawn fourth Test, with Stokes appearing to tell the left-armer where he should be bowling on the Old Trafford pitch. Leicestershire's 20-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, already England's youngest Test cricketer, is another option. England, however, didn't bother with a specialist spinner at the Oval, deploying Joe Root and Jacob Bethell -- clean bowled following a reckless charge down the pitch during a second-innings collapse -- for a mere 11 overs combined. But former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes England should stick with Bashir for the Ashes because of his similarity to outstanding Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. "Australia will have probably three or four left-handers in their line-up which will aid the right-arm off-spinner as well," Ponting told Sky Sports. "And it's the over-spin that you need in Australia."
