'Our priorities at the time were a bit wrong' - Usman Khawaja opens up on homeworkgate scandal ahead of India Test

Australia cricketer Usman Khawaja walked down memory lane and talked about the infamous "Homeworkgate scandal", which had rattled the Australian dressing room a great manifold during their tour of India in 2012-13.

Australian cricket has witnessed many controversies unfold. The Aussies have been slammed for using racial slurs, unfair means, and several other things. The infamous Sandpaper gate scandal is still afresh on people's minds, and in addition to it, the Homeworkgate scandal was something that had caused a massive disruption in the functioning within the management.

"Our priorities at the time were a bit wrong," the 36-year-old said while speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, on the eve of the opening Test against India of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The left-handed spoke in detail about the incident and stated that the functioning of Cricket Australia was not at all by the standards that were expected to be followed in world cricket. He revealed that the management, including the coach, captain and other staff members were more interested in trying to discipline players, rather than concentrating on polishing their performances. Eventually, it resulted in the Baggy Greens facing some of the most embarrasing defeats in Test cricket.

We were just not as skilful as India were: Khawaja

Khawaja went on to state that their then coach Mickey Arthur didn't leave a single opportunity to make a complete mockery of the players' trainings of the Australian cricketers, because he had his priorities terribly wrong.

"We were more worried about the box-ticking stuff for players, rather than actually 'hey, are we a skilful team'. All the coaching and support staff with Mickey (Arthur) at the top were trying to concentrate on all the other things, but that wasn't the reason we were losing. At that point, we weren't a more skilful team than India, and that's why we lost. We didn't lose because we weren't fitter than them, we didn't lose because we weren't a better fielding side than them, we were just not as skilful as they (India) were," he stated.

Australia had toured India in 2013 for a four-match Test series. However, things did not go as per their plans as India won the first Test by eight wickets. The Australian side saw themselves in a crisis-like situation after losing the first game. After the loss, the then head coach Arthur had assigned each member of the playing squad the task of submitting three points on how to improve their individual performances and that of the team in the remaining Tests.

The players were informed of their ‘homework’ duties a day after the defeat and had four days to submit the report. They had the option to either text, email, or slip a note to Arthur with the pointers. However, four members – Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, and Usman Khawaja – failed to send in their reports, following which, the support staff along with skipper Michael Clarke converged to discuss the next course of action. The four, who did not submit the ‘homework’, were later suspended from the third Test in Mohali.

On an ending note, Khawaja said that post that ugly incident, he suffered pangs of paranoia, so much so that at times he felt like an 'outsider' in the Australian dressing room.

"It was already tough enough for a new guy to fit in the team. And when something like this happens, it just made you feel like you were more of an outsider," he concluded.

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