Greg Chappell has weighed in on the public war of words between his brother Ian and Usman Khawaja.
With the battle for Ashes spots heating up, Ian recently told Nine’s Wide World of Sports that Khawaja wasn’t up to standard for international cricket and just a “good player against mediocre bowling”.
However, the Test veteran fired back, describing the Australian great as “not even the best player in his family”.
Greg acknowledges Khawaja’s comments were made in good faith, believing his brother would have copped much worse over the years.
“I don’t think Ian would have minded too much,” he told Sportsday SA.
“He’s probably been on the receiving end of things over the journey that might have affected him a bit more than that.
“You know the game, you’ve got to give your opinion, you’re there to be giving your opinion.
“Ian gave his opinion, it wasn’t necessarily a personal attack against Ussie (Usman), but I think Ussie made his comment with a good bit of humour.
“He knows the game as well, he knows that people get paid for their opinions, he’s paid to make runs and get on with it.
“It was a bit of humour, that’s all it was.”
Khawaja has a close relationship with Greg, calling him a “legend” during his response to Ian’s criticism.
He has worked with Cricket Australia in the past and has therefore mentored Khawaja over a number of years.
Despite his brother’s criticism directed towards Khawaja, Greg believes the 34-year-old is still a chance for Ashes selection.
“I’ve been involved on the coaching side more than Ian, and I’ve had a lot to do with Ussie and a lot of the guys that are currently playing at the highest level because of the roles I’ve had with Cricket Australia,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot to do with Ussie over the journey, he’s a very good cricketer and no doubt he’ll be in the mix when they’re talking about the final eleven for the first Test match.”
Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey recently endorsed Marcus Harris for the role of partnering David Warner at the top of the order for the Ashes, however Khawaja is still a chance to be selected to bat no.5.
The series gets underway in Brisbane on December 8.
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