Lebron-inspired Khawaja sheds 10kgs

Test batsman Usman Khawaja has taken a cue from NBA superstar LeBron James to prepare his body for the gruelling demands of international cricket. As Australia coach Justin Langer weighs up where to bat him for the first Test against India starting Thursday, Khawaja is fit as a fiddle after dropping 10 kilograms in the past eight months. James has been known to go to extraordinary lengths to maintain his imposing physique, spending more than $2 million a year taking care of his body. Khawaja suggested the three-time NBA champion, who is 33 but continues to defy Father Time, has been an inspiration. "I just wanted to make sure that I was the best version of myself," he told RSN radio. "One of my favourite athletes, LeBron James, does that as well as anyone else. I had a good Ashes campaign but I just felt like it was something I needed to work on at the time. I just started chipping away at it." -- Smh