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Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has been declared Test cricketer of the year by the International Cricket Council.
Khawaja edged out tough competition from teammate Travis Head, India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and England’s Joe Root for the award following a successful year that culminated in Australia claiming their first ICC World Test Championship title.
The Pakistan-born cricketer scored 1,210 runs in 13 matches for Australia in the last year. He averaged 52.60 in the 24 innings that he played in the year, including a high score of 195 not out.
The left-hander made his Test debut for Australia in 2011 but has only become a permanent face at the top of the order in the last few years.
Khawaja had two big tons against South Africa (195*) and India (180) but saved his best for arch-rivals England in the Ashes.
After a surprise declaration at 393/8 in the first innings of the opening Test, England managed to put pressure on Australia with early wickets.
Khawaja was in the news recently after being reprimanded by the sport’s governing body for trying to show solidarity with Gaza by sporting a black arm band.