Sabr

Sabr – the Arabic word for patience – is the philosophy that has carried Usman Khawaja through the turbulent highs and lows of cricket and life. Eighty-eight Test matches , and over 6000 runs at elite level – including 16 centuries – have established Usman as an Australian cricketing legend. But the impressive statistics reveal little of the unique character of the nation’s first Muslim Test representative. In this autobiography, written by Usman himself with his distinctive swing and swagger, searing honesty and humour, he tells his remarkable story, from his childhood in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Australia, to his struggle to find his feet in a local cricket culture that didn’t always welcome those who didn’t fit in. Making his Test debut in 2011, the elegant left-hander was dropped from the Australian team on countless occasions. Others might have thrown in the towel. However, Usman found strength not in certainty, but in trusting the journey. And from his return to the Test squad in 2022, he embarked on a stunning run of form that culminated in being crowned ICC Test player of the year in 2023. Success, though, isn’t just about making a comeback – it’s about who you become along the way. ‘Sabr was my secret power, my strength,’ he says, ‘and it remains one of my greatest assets to this day. ’