Mike Hussey backs Usman Khawaja after twin failure

Melbourne, September 1: Former Australia batsman Mike Hussey backed Usman Khawaja to repay selectors' faith "in spades" should they persist with the No.3 batsman for the second Test against Bangladesh.

Khawaja made one in each innings of the series opener in Dhaka, in the process adding to the theory that the left-hander struggles on spinning Asian pitches - he has now batted nine times on the continent for a highest score of 26 and an average of 14.62, reports cricket.com.au.

"You shouldn't be judging someone on a couple of innings, and in one of those innings he was run-out," Hussey told cricket.com.au's The Unplayable Podcast.

"He hasn't played any cricket for so long, so it's going to take time for him to get back in and get up to speed with that match hardness. Even in the IPL he just sat on the bench the whole time, so it's difficult and it's going to take a little bit of time."

Hussey, whose average of 63.05 is the highest of any Australian to have batted at least 10 times in Asia, stressed the importance of patience from the selectors, citing off-spinner Nathan Lyon as an example of someone who has benefited from persistence.

"I know there's going to be the doubters out there but (Khawaja is) a quality player," Hussey said.

"He's class, and if you show the faith, show that you believe in him, you'll get the best out of him. If you start chopping and changing, and sending those messages that you're not backing him, then you're going to get these inconsistent performances," he said.