New South Wales left-hander Usman Khawaja who has been included in the Australian Test team to play Pakistan in two Tests in England next month, is very highly rated by the Australian Test selectors.

Aussie Khawaja gets his due

According to chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch, "He is seen by the national selection panel as being capable of batting anywhere in the order in Test cricket, but importantly for this particular series a top-order batsman who could bat in the top four should the opportunity arise."

Khawaja was born in Islamabad, Pakistan and arrived in Australia aged four.

Usman Khawaja.
pic/getty images

When he was first selected for NSW in 2008, cricket historian Kersi Meher-Homji (who is also a MID DAY correspondent) said at the time he believed Khawaja to be the first local Muslim to play at this level, although not the first to be born in the sub-continent.u00a0

u00a0According to Meher-Homji, Mark Lavender, a West Australian batsman of the 1990s was born in Chennai, India, while Dav Whatmore, born in Sri Lanka, played seven Tests for Australia.

Khawaja's promotion arrives after a spot was opened up by a shoulder injury to Phil Hughes, while Tasmanian pace bowler Ben Hilfenhaus returns after proving he has recovered from hisu00a0 knee tendonitis problem.

"Ben Hilfenhaus has successfully returned from injury during the current Australia A series in Queensland," said chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.

u00a0"Ben was a critical member of our 2009 Ashes bowling group and it is very pleasing to see him back in the Test squad with the next Ashes series just around the corner.

u00a0"The unfortunate injury to Phillip Hughes has created an opportunity for another batsman to join the squad for these two Test matches against Pakistan.

u00a0"Usman Khawaja has been selected on the back of some very strong Sheffield Shield performances," Hilditch said.

u00a0Brad Haddin was also picked in the squad despite a tennis elbow complaint that only allowed him to start batting this week.

u00a0The team: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Usman Khawaja, Marcus North, Steven Smith.
According to a blogger on the Daily Telegraph (Sydney) website: "This is great news for Aussie cricket! Finally the new young upcoming multicultural generation gets a chance to showcase their skills! It's been a long time coming!"

Disagreeing, au00a0 fan asks:
"Why is this story headlined as 'First Muslim selected in Test Side?'" Why not 'First Pakistani-Australian ... " What is this emphasis on religion? Would we be saying: "Another Christian selected to play in Test side???"
Complains a third, nationalistically: "I do not see you mentioning the birth nationality of any other player (Hauritz, Katich) so what's the big deal about a Muslim player. HE IS AN AUSTRALIAN".

Yet another fan points out: "When Monty Panesar was picked for the English they did not make a big deal because he was of Indian extraction", to which an aficiandou00a0 retorts: "There hasn't been one before ... it's highlighting a new multi-cultural aspect of cricket which traditionally has not been there. That's why it is a big deal. And England did make a big deal about Monty".

Source: AAP and Daily Telegraph.

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