Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald suggested Usman Khawaja could be in line for a return in the Adelaide Test, but questions are being asked on whether the opener should get a fairytale finish. Most of the debate heading into the third Ashes Test will be around whether the selectors will choose to bring back Khawaja in the batting line-up.
Khawaja hasn’t opened so far in the Ashes and missed out on the Brisbane Test entirely after injuring his back. Travis Head shifted up the order to accompany Jake Weatherald against the new ball. And both have impressed with plenty of calls to keep the duo at the top.
Usman Khawaja (pictured) could be in line for a return in the Adelaide Test, but questions have been asked over whether the opener should find his way back in the side after Australia won two in a row. (Getty Images)
Khawaja was named in the 15-player squad for Adelaide and will look to prove his fitness in the next week. But whether he is the best fit for the XI is now a different story.
The 38-year-old could dislodge Head at the top of the order and shift to South Australian back down to No.5. Although Khawaja has struggled across the last two years against the quicks and some felt heading into the Ashes he was under pressure.
Unfortunately, his back injury left the door open for Head and his match-winning effort in Perth persuaded the selectors to momentarily make the move official. But it doesn’t rule out Khawaja’s return.
Coach McDonald said Khawaja could also feature down the batting order where he has batted for a solid portion of his Test career. “The assumption is that Ussie can only open as well; I think he does have the flexibility, and we like to think that all of our batters have the flexibility, to be able to perform anywhere in that order,” McDonald said.
Khawaja is an Australian cricket great having scored 6,055 runs across 85 Test matches. He averages 43.56 and has scored 16 centuries. And while many feel he deserves a sendoff in what would be his final Ashes series in Australia, others are not buying into the idea.
Does Usman Khawaja deserve a farewell?
Code Sports reporter Dan Cherny claimed the selectors don’t owe Khawaja a ‘storybook’ farewell and need to select the side on merit. “The panel doesn’t owe Khawaja a storybook finish,” he wrote for The Sun Herald.
“There’s an argument that no one deserves to decide the terms of their departure from international cricket, and if there is a greatness threshold for such exits, then Khawaja – despite being an outstanding player over a long period of time – probably falls just short of it.”
This sentiment was backed up by SEN reporter Tom Morris. The cricket reporter felt at it stands the opening pair are thriving and Australia will be taking a huge gamble to play with the dynamic after two vital victories.
“Understand McDonald leaving the door ajar and Khawaja clinging to hope, but it would be entirely preposterous if he was recalled for Adelaide,” Morris wrote. “Aussie batting order and fielding group is far more dynamic now. Fairytales are lovely etc (Khawaja’s career warrants widespread praise)…but let’s not crowbar one in when his time is clearly up.”
Andrew McDonald leaves door open for return
According to coach McDonald the team are open to different possibilities for the next Test. “We haven’t discussed moving him previously but we’re open to what the batting order would look like moving forward, should there be any moving parts,” McDonald said. “(But) we haven’t entered the conversation.”
Before making his return to the Australian XI in 2022, Khawaja was not the opener. Khawaja batted at No.3 for 66 of 77 innings. But there is no doubting whatever happens in the Ashes, Khawaja will go down as one of Australia’s greatest ever openers in red ball cricket.
Usman Khawaja (pictured) is fighting to get back into the Australia XI for the Adelaide Test.