THE biggest impact Usman Khawaja makes on Australian cricket is one that happens everywhere but the middle of a stadium.

It’s large opening line, given the scorecard at the end of day 3, and his 171 off 381 balls is impact not seen in public from Khawaja for some time.

As Khawaja was scoring his valuable runs, I was in a conversation with Cricket Australia’s National Manager of Club Cricket, Nick Hatzoglou.

He gave a crucial insight into how Usman’s role in the Australian cricket team reflects contemporary Australia; where, he says, approximately 47.3 per cent of the population is either born overseas, or has at least one parent born overseas.

“When I see Usman, or Marcus Stoinis, or even going back to when [Indian born] Lisa Sthalekar represented Australia, I feel a further connection to the team through their stories being so aligned to that of my own family and its own resettlement journey and acceptance to Australia”.

And when placed next to the opening of a piece penned by Usman himself for Players’ Voice it shows the power of Usman, and his role model status, when aligned with the 18.5% growth seen in participation numbers from multicultural Australia.

“I didn’t give it much thought at first,” wrote Khawaja.

“I could have played for Australia, but I didn’t get selected because I was black/Indian/Pakistani, so I stopped playing.

“I’ve heard that story all my life, whether it was from a family friend or just a random bloke.

“When I was younger I used to think, ‘Sure, sure, that’s what everyone says.’”

Khawaja, more than just about anyone, has helped shift that narrative.

Nick’s role has him travelling the country to spend time in grade clubs all across the land. He says his eyes and ears are awake to the changing attitudes of not just cricket, but also our broader society to the diversity of backgrounds represented by multicultural Australia.

“In a contemporary Australia where the population comes from varied faiths and cultural backgrounds, seeing a person like Usman in the Australian men’s team sends a powerful message of inclusion and that anyone can belong,” he says.

Entering this final Test, many observers had started to question Khawaja’s form and his impact on the series.

And of course, when Usman is out of form, it comes down to the perception that he just doesn’t care enough through his complete lack of hustle.

Ian Healy led the charge after Khawaja made just 11 in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test.

“Khawaja looked a bit lazy,” Healy said. “The energy levels. We were hopeful he was going to come out with good intensity levels and hustle yesterday, but he didn’t. He strolls out and is a laid- back character”.

Usman’s response to this type of criticism is laced with common sense and class.

“It is disappointing to hear because when I am scoring runs I’m elegant, and when I’m not, I’m lazy,” he said on Saturday night.

“I can’t seem to win when these things aren’t going well. I’ve had that my whole career. It’s not like I’m going out there and not trying.

“Sometimes the game feels really simple and easy and other times it’s a grind. That’s the way it is.”

And then Red, Morgan Freeman’s character from The Shawshank Redemption (favourite of cricketers everywhere) said this ...

“I could see why some of the boys took him for snobby. He had a quiet way about him, a walk and a talk that just wasn’t normal around here. He strolled, like a man in a park without a care in the world, like he had an invisible coat that would shield him from this place”.

It was about Andy Dufresne and not Usman Khawaja; yet it was still so right.

Success as a cricketer is one thing, but when you can be seen as a leader of hope and inclusion that is breaking down societies barriers to positively impact lives, you are more than just another successful cricketer; you are a pioneer, a leader, a hero.

Usman Khawaja — take yourself a bow.