Australia’s opening batsman, Usman Khawaja, has continued to showcase his impressive form by securing the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2023. This prestigious award comes as a testament to Khawaja’s outstanding contributions throughout the year, playing a pivotal role in Australia’s successful campaign that culminated in their first ICC World Test Championship title.
Khawaja faced stiff competition for this esteemed award from notable players, including teammates Travis Head, India’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, and England’s Joe Root. However, his exceptional performances set him apart in the race for the coveted title.
The left-handed batsman kicked off 2023 on a high note, carrying forward his momentum from the previous year. He achieved a career-best score of 195* against South Africa, signaling his exceptional form early in the season.
Khawaja’s standout performance came during the crucial away series against India, where he emerged as the leading run-scorer for both teams. In four matches, he amassed an impressive total of 333 runs, including a century and two fifties.
Despite facing rare failures in the World Test Championship Final, Khawaja demonstrated resilience and bounced back during the Ashes series against England.
Once again, he finished as the highest run-scorer in the series, accumulating 496 runs. His remarkable consistency and ability to perform under pressure became evident as he concluded the year impressively with three scores of 40+ against Pakistan.
Usman Khawaja’s resilience, outstanding form, and pivotal role in Australia’s success have rightfully earned him the title of ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2023, further solidifying his status as one of the premier Test batsmen in the world.
