Usman Khawaja: Facing Bumrah Felt Awkward Initially, But I Got Used to It

A bit awkward when I first face him," says Usman Khawaja, the Australia's left-handed opening batsman, that continues with constant exposure while batting.

It's just his action, really, Khawaja said in an interview to Fox Sports on Thursday. It's a different, weird kind of action as his release point is very different than other bowlers. It's just a bit further up. So a lot of guys release the ball from near the popping crease. Against Bumrah, it feels like he gets a bit further out just with his front braced leg and pushes the ball out.

"So it feels like it comes out and then gets there a lot quicker than you expect it. It's just once you get used to the action, it's fine. I played against him a lot. Not to say that he can't give me out on the first ball."

"I mean anyone can. But it's one of those things where once the first time you face him, it's very awkward and then when you get a little bit of rhythm it gets better. But he's still a class bowler," he added.

Bumrah has scalped 32 wickets in seven matches on his two Test-tour sojourns to Australia as he has come back both times with India pocketing a 2-1 victory. He will probably again play the same concurring role when the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is scheduled to get underway at Perth on November 22, which will be followed by a match in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth.

Of course, he is the threat along with Bumrah," said Khawaja. "Shami is getting a comeback trail in the Ranji Trophy, but the threat goes beyond just Bumrah.".

"Everybody talks about Jasprit, but they actually have a lot of other good bowlers. I think (Mohammed) Siraj is a very good bowler. He's a very good bowler to both right-handers and left-handers. When (Mohammed) Shami was fit, when he was playing those series, he was a very good bowler. He was very underrated. No one really talked about him."

"And then they got good spinners lining up, too, which really complements their fast bowlers. So for me, it's never; I'm just not thinking about Jasprit Bumrah. You want to ask me where you think - I'm not thinking about where he is getting me out."

"I am thinking of where am I scoring runs against him. And I am quite sure all good batsmen will tell you exactly the same thing because if he misses, well then I'm coming and then if he bowls good stuff, then I'll respect that. So that's just Test cricket," he said.