Srinagar: Cricket World was left in shock as Australia skipper Pat Cummins made an unnecessary declaration to deny Usman Khawaja his first Test Double hundred after been stuck on 195 for two days due to rain at SCG.
Australia declared at 4-475 after a day-and-a-half of rain finally cleared with play against South Africa resumed at the SCG midway through day four, leaving Usman Khawaja on 1965 – just five runs shy of a double century.
After moving past his previous highest Test score of 174, Khawaja finished day two unbeaten on 195 before all play was washed out on Friday. He was hoping for a small chance to reach his double hundred but the skipper Cummins had other plans. He declared thud denying Khawaja chance to score his maiden double ton.
Cricket World was left in shock and slammed Cummins for denying Usman Khawaja his dream double ton.
6NewsAU managing director Leonardo Puglisi tweeted: “Usman Khawaja has every right to be pissed off right now – it was gonna be a draw anyway, let the poor man make 5 more runs.”
The Western Advocate’s Alexander Grant added: “The match is heading for a draw. Why not give Khawaja the chance to reach an individual milestone?”
Chaser co-founder Dom Knight wrote: “If the Test is drawn, Khawaja will have every right to be filthy surely”.
Sports journalist Liam Warren posted: “Gotta feel for Khawaja. Had a double ton in his sights only for weather to take it away.”
However, the commentators believed the declaration was the right call.
Former Test quick Damien Fleming told SEN: “I’d declare. We need to take 20 wickets.”
“I can’t see the point in Australia continuing to bat despite the milestone,” Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.
Meanwhile on Friday, Khawaja had said that it would be “pretty harsh” if Cummins didn’t let him try to get the milestone.
“I’m not the captain, I don’t make those decisions,” Khawaja said of the call whether or not to declare.
“I think it would be pretty harsh if he (Cummins) bowled straight away, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“(Cummins has) been making a few jokes around the change rooms (about declaring) … taking the mickey out of me.
“We could go out there and get a few more runs really quickly, or we could declare pretty much straight away.
“It’s obviously a decision he’ll have to make tomorrow, decide on what the weather’s doing and how he wants to play out this game.