Tim Paine defends Khawaja, Labuschagne: quality players aren’t dumped after one failure

Former Australian captain Tim Paine has come to the defense of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne following their disappointing performances in the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's.

Both players struggled in the final, with Khawaja scoring 0 and 6, and Labuschagne managing 17 and 20, contributing to Australia's heavy defeat. However, Paine stressed that such failures should not lead to immediate exclusion from the team.

“Players like Khawaja and Labuschagne cannot be 'dumped' after one bad Test,” Paine said, emphasizing the value of experience and quality in the squad.

Khawaja’s overall record in the WTC cycle 2023-25 remains impressive, having amassed 1,428 runs in 20 matches including two centuries and six fifties, making him the team's top run-scorer. In contrast, Labuschagne’s form has been less consistent, scoring 974 runs in 20 matches with a century and eight fifties, but his average dropped to 27.82 during the cycle, lowering his overall batting average to 46.19.

Paine also highlighted the difficulty of replacing quality players, citing the retirement of David Warner as an example. He believes that the upcoming tour of the West Indies starting June 25 will provide an opportunity for both Khawaja and Labuschagne to regain form and prove their worth.

“Over the last 18 months, it has been realised that quality players are extremely hard to replace,” Paine remarked.

The former skipper’s comments underline the importance of patience and trust in established players despite occasional setbacks, especially in a competitive international cricket environment.

Former Australian captain Tim Paine defended Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne after their poor performances in the ICC World Test Championship final, emphasizing that quality players shouldn’t be dropped after one failure. Paine highlighted Khawaja’s strong WTC record and cautioned against quick replacements.