Usman Khawaja To Make Glamorgan Debut At Edgbaston

Usman Khawaja is set to make his Glamorgan debut on Saturday as the county bid to recover from their awful Royal London One Day Cup campaign.

The Australian Test batsman – who has been drafted as cover for compatriot Shaun Marsh – is poised to make his first appearance in the return to the Specsavers County Championship.

Khawaji has been included in a 12-man squad for the division two match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, where Glamorgan will hope to get their season back on track.

Coach Robert Croft watched his side pick up just one victory in eight matches in the One Day Cup competition, to finish rock bottom of the South Group.

Khawaja – who has played 33 for the Aussies and averages 42 – had initially signed for the T20 Vitality Blast campaign but has been drafted in early and is likely to make his Glamorgan bow on Saturday.

“I wanted to come back to the UK at some point”, said Khawaja. “I gravitated towards Glamorgan because I knew the likes of Shaun Marsh and Michael Hogan were playing here, so for me it was all about playing somewhere that I would enjoy playing my cricket.”

The left-hander played in all four Tests in Australia’s tour of South Africa back in March, but comes to Glamorgan on the back of a short break and ready to make an impact.

Embed from Getty Images

“When Shaun was selected for the Australia ODI side there was a chance to come over three weeks earlier to Cardiff. It was an opportunity for me to get my feet wet because I was ready to go cricket wise and help out in the four-day game.

“Obviously I came here to play T20 cricket but I want to contribute in any way I can so that’s on the back burner for the time being so I can concentrate on these next few County Championship games.

“I’m here to perform for Glamorgan. I play my best cricket when I’m out there enjoying it. I’m very focused now that I’m here and want to contribute in any way I can and hopefully win some games.”

Glamorgan turn their attention back to the red-ball competition, starting with a trip to Birmingham this weekend, before home matches against Derbyshire and Northamptonshire.

The Welsh side have been hampered by injuries and will be without County Championship skipper Michael Hogan who is still returning to full fitness, while Marchant de Lange is still out with a hamstring injury and is undergoing rehab.

Hogan’s absence means that Glamorgan stalwart Chris Cooke takes over as captain of Glamorgan for the first time. Cooke was named vice-captain at the beginning of the season across all three formats.

Meanwhile, batsman Connor Brown is set for his first County Championship appearance of the season after impressing in the One Day Cup. The 21-year-old hit a List A career-best 98 against Surrey and is joined by eight other Glamorgan Pathway players in the county’s latest 12-man squad.

Glamorgan 12-man squad to face Warwickshire: Cooke ©, Khawaja, Lloyd, Selman, Murphy, Brown, Salter, Smith, TVDG, Morgan, Carey, Lawlor.