New Delhi: Usman Khawaja's return to Australia's Test side on Boxing Day sparked off a healthy debate among the team's cricket fans.
To accommodate Khawaja, the team management had to relegate either Joe Burns or Shaun Marsh to the bench.
In what appeared to be a tough call, the Aussies decided to drop Marsh, who had played a knock of 182 runs in the first Test.
On his return, the Pakistan-born Khawaja showed why he is highly rated with a 144-run knock against the Windies.
"It was fantastic to see Usman do so well coming straight back into the team," CEO of Cricket Australia, James Sutherland, told Grandstand.
Sutherland also highlighted the importance of the 29-year-old in inspiring the next generation of cricketers with a similar background.
"I think he can be an inspiration to the next generation. What we really want cricket to be is a sport that reflects the demographics of Australian society - men and women, boys and girls from all different backgrounds and Usman can certainly do that,” he further added.
In the last series against New Zealand, Khawaja scored hundreds in back-to-back Tests. In Brisbane he got 174 and followed it up an impressive 121 at Perth.
Khawaja's next goal will be to replicate his Test form in the ODI format. He has so far played just three ODIs for Australia, the last being in February.
