Usman Khawaja has revealed he is fit and ready to go ahead of the third Test in Adelaide having shut down the noise surrounding his back injury and the events leading up to the Ashes. Australian cricket fans remain divided on whether Khawaja should walk straight back into the Aussie XI after his recent injury.
Khawaja injured his back in Perth, which saw Travis Head open in the final innings. Head scored a match-winning century and has since formed a formidable partnership with Jake Weatherald. The duo got Australia off to a great start in Brisbane and many feel the Aussie selectors should stick with the winning formula.
Former captain Michael Clarke is one who feels the Australian side shouldn’t mess with what is working. Coach Andrew McDonald suggested Khawaja could also return down the order if Australia keep Head and Weatherald together.
Usman Khawaja (pictured) is open to returning in the middle order having shut down the noise surrounding his back injury and the events leading up to the Pert Ashes Test. (Images: Getty Images)
And Khawaja said he is open to the idea having batted in the middle order throughout his career. “I would’ve batted four, maybe two years ago for Queensland,” Khawaja said. “Five or six, it’s been a long time. No issues. I’ve always done really well batting at four or five.
“Normally people that open aren’t as attuned to No.5 as opening because they’re not as good at playing spin. But I’ve proven I’m one of the best players of spin in Australia. My subcontinent record is one of the best ever for Australia, so that’s never been the issue. I can bat anywhere.”
Usman Khawaja dismisses golf drama
There was plenty made of Khawaja’s back injury in Perth after it was revealed he played golf the day before the first ball of the series. This divided fans with many feeling Khawaja shouldn’t have been putting himself at risk of injury before such a big Test match.
Cricket Australia defended Khawaja and insisted the back issue had nothing to do with playing golf. But Khawaja has dismissed the drama as outside noise and claimed he has always prepared properly. “I gotta be honest, like the golf one, not really important to me what other people say. I’ve always been a professional,” he said.
While Khawaja knows he is in the twilight of his career, he isn’t ready to start talking about farewell Test matches. “If people want to talk about farewell Tests or whatever, that’s got no relevance to me,” Khawaja said.
“I could have retired two years ago. I could have retired at any time. But I’m still valued by the team, so I’m here. And I’m always mindful of the future too. I always have been, I’m not here to hang around … I’m just here to enjoy my cricket. As long as I’m valued, I’m here. I’m doing my job. And I’ve done quite well over the last few years.”
David Warner backs Usman Khawaja’s return
While the likes of Clarke feels Australia should stick to the winning formula, former opening partner David Warner feels Khawaja deserves to return as opener. Warner feels Khawaja has earned the right to come back into the side after year’s of proving why he is one of Australia’s greatest ever openers.
“Of course (he deserves that spot). Everyone gets injured,” he said on Friday. “Travis put his hand up to bat in the situation that he was in. He came out and batted the way that Travis Head does.
“You’ve seen plenty of interviews from Trav saying that’s Ussie’s spot and that when the time comes that they ask him to go up the order, he more than likely wouldn’t want to do that. In about 2022/23, we were looking at Travis Head to potentially open the batting, but at that point in time, we didn’t have that aggressor in the middle order. Australia has that now, and looking forward whenever Ussie decides to hang them up, they can look that way.”
Usman Khawaja (pictured left) speaking with Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg (pictured right).
