U-19 World Cup: Inspired by Usman Khawaja, Australia’s Harjas Singh ready to take on Pakistan pace battery

Australia opener Harjas Singh has had a forgettable U-19 World Cup so far, reaching double figures only twice. He has managed only 45 runs in six outings, but is confident to take on Pakistan’s fancied pace battery comprising Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Zeeshan and Ali Mirza in Thursday’s second semi-final, the winners of which will face defending champions India for the title.

“It has been a below-par tournament for me. I have not done well but just a few innings back, I had scored against England (Youth Test). I don’t think I need to change anything in my batting technique,” Harjas tells The Indian Express from Benoni.

“Pakistan does have a good bowling attack, but I have grown up playing cricket in Australia and we are used to playing on bouncy tracks from a very young age. I am a big unit and can pack some punch as well,” the left-hander says.

Interestingly, Harjas doesn’t like watching cricket or following any star player, but Usman Khawaja’s rise in the recent past has impressed him a lot.

“I don’t talk about cricket or watch it once I am out of the field. But in the past couple of years, I have been inspired by the journey of Usman Khawaja. He was dropped from the Test team, but fought his way back and is currently one of the best Test batsmen in the world. Above all, he is also a southpaw,” he says.

Harjas’ family moved to Sydney from Chandigarh in 2000. The youngster started playing at the local Revesby Workers Cricket Club when he was eight.

“I still have family back in Chandigarh and Amritsar. We have a house in Sector 44-D, but the last time I was there was 2015. Thereafter, cricket took over and I never got the opportunity. My uncle still lives there,” the teenager says.

A guiding hand

Impressed by his ability to spend time at the crease, Neil D’Costa – who has trained the likes of Michael Clarke, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne – took him under his wing.

“I can’t remember how long I have been training with him. He is someone who has kept me grounded and has taught me the importance of spending time at the crease. He can be quick to criticise and slow to praise, but never goes over the top, regardless of a good or bad performance. Along with my parents, I owe a lot to him,” says Harjas.

D’Costa too had lauded Harjas’ talent as he feels the youngster is way ahead of his age-group.

“This boy is special. He is capable of playing Test cricket for Australia,” he was quoted by an Australian local newspaper as saying.

Harjas, a student of Westfield Sports High School, Fairfield, is blessed with sporting genes. His father Inderjit Singh was a Punjab state boxing champion, while his mother Avinder Kaur was a state-level long jumper.

“My parents sacrificed all their free time to ensure I got proper training. They work in the transport industry. They spent hours and a lot of their savings to help shape my career,” he says.

Harjas is a right-hander in almost everything he does, barring batting. There is an interesting story behind him becoming a left-hander.

“As a young kid batting right-handed in the backyard, I was in danger of breaking the glass windows close by on the leg-side,” he says.

“So, I started batting left-handed to avoid that potential crisis. And I’ve stuck to it! I bowl right-arm medium pacers though, and throw right-handed.”

In a podcast on SBS Punjabi last year, Harjas has opened up on how he had to work a lot harder than others in the field because of his identity.

“If you look different from others, you have to do something different and much more to maintain that identity and your place in the field,” he had said on the podcast.

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