Steve Smith Faces Stiff Test, Usman Khawaja Backs Partner in Windy Wellington

A verdant Wellington wicket and New Zealand’s bowling attack, well-suited to exploit such conditions, could pose Steve Smith’s biggest challenge yet in just his third Test as an opener but veteran Khawaja backs him to do well.

However, his veteran partner, Usman Khawaja, swatted aside any concerns about the 35-year-old’s ability to adapt, declaring Smith arguably the “best Test cricketer of this generation” who will “just score runs” when the two teams clash on Thursday.

Smith enters the series following two underwhelming performances in the T20s, where he was attempting to solidify his position for the upcoming World Cup. But in the first Test between the two nations in New Zealand since 2016, he returns to his preferred format, red-ball cricket.

“Opening is always a challenge,” Khawaja acknowledged in Wellington. “You’re facing the best bowlers with the new ball, often on the freshest wickets in the first innings, so the challenge is constant.”

He continued, “There are no easy runs at the beginning. That’s what I miss about batting at four or five sometimes. But Stephen Smith is as capable a batsman as anyone in the world. He’s right up there as the best Test cricketer of this generation. So if anyone can score runs at the top, it’s Steve Smith.”

“There’s no doubt, bat him anywhere, and he’ll score runs. It’s as simple as that,” Khawaja concluded confidently.

Khawaja acknowledged that the wicket at The Basin Reserve appeared green, as anticipated, but cautioned against drawing hasty conclusions.

“New Zealand wickets can sometimes appear worse than they play,” he said. “It depends on the conditions overhead. When the sun comes out, even a green wicket can be a good place to bat once you survive the new ball.”

“However, overcast conditions combined with a green wicket can be quite challenging. So, the weather will play a significant role,” Khawaja added.

Past Year Has Been Challenging and Most Demanding for Khawaja

Reflecting on the past year, Khawaja labeled it the most demanding of his career in terms of workload, emphasizing the extensive Test schedule over multi-format commitments.

He acknowledged that the workload is taking its toll on players, with some, like fast bowling captain Pat Cummins, opting out of recent white-ball series against the West Indies.

Despite the heavy schedule, the 37-year-old Khawaja asserted that he would “always find a way” to be mentally and physically prepared for each series, including this one.

“I think people underestimate how demanding this year has been,” Khawaja said of the past 12 months. “We had the Australian summer, followed by two months in India, then a short break, before heading to England for another few months. After a brief break, we entered the domestic summer and now this tour.”

“While I have a decent break coming up after this series, it’s definitely been one of the biggest years, especially considering the Test-match workload, which is mentally draining. Physically, I’m fine. I’ll always be up for cricket, no matter how tired I am. I’ll find a way. I’m ready to go,” Khawaja concluded with determination.