Former Australian Test opener Matthew Hayden has give some blunt advice to Test hopeful Usman Khawaja ahead of the team selection for the opening Test of the series against South Africa.
Hayden has told Khawaja to "shut up and get runs" as the Queensland hopeful tries to return to the Test team following the decision to drop he and Joe Burns after the second Test against Sri Lanka.
"It’s a pretty big decision after just two Test matches," Khawaja told Fairfax about being dropped.
"It was disappointing that Joe Burns and I were sort of the scapegoats for not performing.
"I just thought that I’d only played two Test matches in the subcontinent and I got dropped. I wasn’t the only person who wasn’t scoring runs."
Hayden admitted that he did believe Khawaja was hastily removed from the Test side, but said the 29-year-old should let his batting do the talking.
“It never pays to argue the toss,” Hayden said on Triple M's Rush Hour.
"In sporting sides you kind of feel a bit gypped at times because you want to do better and you’re driven by your own success.
"But it’s always clearly one case, and that’s let your bat do the talking.
"I do think it was a harsh call on Uzzy, he’s always had those calls unfortunately.
"He just has to shut up and get runs — which he’s done this particular innings (in the Sheffield Shield this week) — but keep getting runs and keep mounting his story otherwise there’s going to be other players to take his spot."
