Khawaja Addresses Media Treatment in Retirement
During his retirement press conference on Friday, Australian batter Usman Khawaja criticized media coverage following a back injury he sustained early in the first Ashes Test in Perth. Khawaja attributed the extensive backlash he faced to racial stereotyping.
He stated that the injury, a back spasm, was beyond his control, yet the criticism from media and former players persisted for approximately five days. Khawaja described the criticism as personal, referencing remarks that questioned his commitment, self-focus, and training habits, specifically citing his participation in a golf competition prior to the game. He identified these comments as reflecting "racial stereotypes" he had experienced throughout his life.
Khawaja expressed disappointment, suggesting that despite his belief that the media and past players had progressed beyond such stereotypes, the intensity of the treatment indicated otherwise. He noted that he had not witnessed similar treatment directed at other Australian cricketers for "uncontrollables."
Gillespie Responds to Khawaja's Remarks
Former Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie, the first Indigenous man to play Test cricket for Australia, commented on Khawaja's statements. Gillespie acknowledged the prevalence of racism, stating, "I’ve actually always admired him and applauded him for speaking up because racism is a big stain on our society, and it always needs to be called out."
However, Gillespie differentiated between racism and the media's role in questioning player preparation. He argued that former players were justified in questioning whether playing golf was optimal preparation for a Test match. Gillespie characterized being held accountable for professional choices as part of being a professional and not an instance of "bullying" or "abuse."
Gillespie stated that a player "can’t really throw a temper tantrum when asked to take accountability for the job you’re actually paid to do." He also drew a parallel to the scrutiny England faced over their Ashes preparation, suggesting consistency in media coverage.
Regarding Khawaja's mention of being called "lazy" throughout his life, Gillespie indicated he had not observed any media reports referencing Khawaja as lazy, questioning the origin of this specific claim.