Usman Khawaja reveals 17-year secret rheumatoid arthritis battle

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 05:19 · Archive

Former Australia Test cricketer Usman Khawaja kept his rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis hidden throughout his 88-Test career.

Usman Khawaja has revealed he kept rheumatoid arthritis secret throughout his entire Test career, which ended after Australia's Ashes win in January. Diagnosed at 22 whilst with New South Wales, the condition caused debilitating pain in his left knee that initially left him unable to walk 10 metres to the bathroom. Khawaja feared the diagnosis was terminal and would end his cricket career before it began.

Managed through regular injections that he continues to receive, the condition remained unknown to most people close to him. Even childhood friend and fellow cricketer David Warner and teammate Michael Hussey were unaware of the diagnosis. Khawaja explains he kept it secret because 'I didn't want anyone to use it against me'. He notes that the arthritis may have contributed to back injuries later in his career.

Khawaja played 88 Tests for Australia, scoring 6,229 runs including 16 centuries. He was one of the most dropped players in Australian Test history, losing his place eight times before notably scoring twin centuries in Sydney in 2022 at age 35. He is releasing an autobiography, Sabr, on 10 November.

How it is being reported

• ‘Even my best friend didn’t know’: Usman Khawaja reveals why he kept his rheumatoid arthritis a secretOpener played through pain to establish himself as a Test cricketer ‘I didn’t want anyone to use it against me,’ he says Usman Khawaja has opened up on why he kept the rheumatoid arthritis that threatened his playing future a secret for his entire Test career. The former Test star releases his autobiography, Sabr, on 10 November, which he said he wrote “for people who do love cricket and for those who don’t”. Continue reading...Guardian Sport · 26 Oct, 04:54
• Usman Khawaja reveals why he kept debilitating illness a secretCricket great Usman Khawaja could barely walk and thought he had a terminal illness when he was just starting out his Test career. He was soon diagnosed with a crippling disease, which he has kept secret for 17 years.ABC News Australia · 24 Oct, 20:06

In this story: Usman Khawaja · David Warner · Michael Hussey · Australia · New South Wales · Sydney

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