Moment Usman Khawaja slaps down cricket legends on live TV over their ‘classic cricket’ claims

Australia test star Usman Khawaja has hit back at sporting legends who have slammed the side’s style of the play and says the game has changed since the days of ‘classic cricket.’

Fed up with the barrage of recent criticism, the injured cricketer jumped to the defence of his teammates live on air and didn’t hold back during a guest appearance in the Fox Sports commentary box during the T20 clash between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday night. 

‘I hear you guys talking about the classic cricket shots but the game’s changing guys,’ Khawaja said while commentating with former Test players Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds.

Australian Test batsman Usman Khawaja (pictured with wife Rachel) set the record straight while commentating for Fox Sports on Wednesday night

‘We do play different shots now. The bowlers are getting better. As batsmen, we need to adapt a bit. A lot of the old traditionalists don’t like the reverse sweeps, the paddles but sometimes, they’re the little risks you have to take to bring in those classic cricket shots. Sometimes it does look ugly when it doesn’t come but when it does everybody loves it and that’s the entertainment of T20 cricket.’

Khawaja said the game has evolved in the last decade, which has forced modern players to become much smarter.

‘That’s no disrespect to guys of your era who were excellent players,’ he said to his fellow commentators.

‘You can only go on what you play on but the game’s evolving and unless you’re playing it and you’re part of it you do feel like sometimes there is a bit of a disconnect between what the players are trying to achieve and what the outside world, especially traditionalists and former players, are seeing.’

He said the basics of the game remained the same.

‘Good shots are still good shots but as the game evolves bowlers set different fields,’ Khawaja said. 

'I hear you guys talking about the classic cricket shots but the game's changing guys,' Usman Khawaja (middle) said while commentating for Fox Sports on Wednesday night

‘I hear you guys talking about the classic cricket shots but the game’s changing guys,’ Usman Khawaja (middle) said while commentating for Fox Sports on Wednesday night

Fed up with the barrage of recent criticism, Test batsman Usman Khawaja (pictured in action for Australia)  jumped to the defence of his teammates

Fed up with the barrage of recent criticism, Test batsman Usman Khawaja (pictured in action for Australia)  jumped to the defence of his teammates

The commentators then turned their focus to the on-field action as Indian batsman Rohit Sharma smashed a pull shot off Australian fast bowler Billy Stanlake.

‘See, no one would have done that 10-15 years ago,’ Khawaja quipped. 

Many cricket fans on social media agreed with Khawaja.

‘Fair play to Usman Khawaja for schooling two former greats on how they view the modern game on live TV,’ one tweeted.

'A lot of the old traditionalists don't like the reverse sweeps, the paddles but sometimes, they're the little risks you have to take to bring in those classic cricket shots,' Usman Khawaja (pictured with his wife) said

‘A lot of the old traditionalists don’t like the reverse sweeps, the paddles but sometimes, they’re the little risks you have to take to bring in those classic cricket shots,’ Usman Khawaja (pictured with his wife) said

The Australian side has come under recent fire from legends of the game following their dismal form against South African in the Test and one day series and a record defeat against Pakistan.

Not even Australia’s four-run win on Wednesday night could stop the criticism as former national selector turned commentator Mark Waugh slammed the movement of Australian batsmen at the crease.

‘That’s not on,’ Symonds added as Australian Marcus Stoinis attempted a reverse sweep early in his innings.

Australia won their rain-interrupted T20 clash against India in Brisbane on Wednesday night

Australia won their rain-interrupted T20 clash against India in Brisbane on Wednesday night

Waugh later congratulated Australia in the win. 

‘Well done boys good gutsy win in the end and first blow to the Aussies for the summer v India,’ he tweeted.

Australia goes one up in the T20 series against India, which moves to Melbourne on Friday before the third and final at the Sydney Cricket Game on Sunday. 

Currently recovering from knee surgery, Khawaja has been named in the Australian squad for the first Test against India at the Gabba on December 6.

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja (pictured) says the game has evolved in the last decade

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja (pictured) says the game has evolved in the last decade

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