Inglis earns recall to replace injured Khawaja, though he won’t open

Josh Inglis is the man to replace the injured Usman Khawaja in the Australian lineup when the second Ashes Test gets underway at the Gabba on Thursday, replacing Travis Head in the middle of the batting order.

Head, who guided the Aussies to a 1-0 lead in Perth last week with an all-time innings, has been promoted to starting opener thanks to his heroics and will face the first overs alongside first Test debutant Jake Weatherald.

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Beau Webster, who has been with the squad, had been the other batter the selectors had been considering.

The main reason Inglis won the race was thanks to Cameron Green already filling the all-rounder role in the eleven.

Inglis immediately stepped into the slips cordon this week, taking over Khawaja’s usual fielding spot when the team was training together on Tuesday. The 30-year-old will be in the nets facing the Aussie bowling attack to Thursday.

This return marks the first time Inglis has been in the Test squad since debuting against Sri Lanka earlier this year. His first knock on debut was a standout, with him reeling in a ton, though he then followed that with a duck, five, and twelve. Most recently, Australia’s latest opener scored 40 and 125 not out against the second-grade England Lions in Perth last weekend.

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Elsewhere in the squad, there’s still a chance that captain Pat Cummins may actually run out at the Gabba. While Khawaja has already been ruled out, the Australian skipper is still racing the clock for fitness and has been practicing with the Test squad where he can. Should Cummins return, he would replace either Brendan Doggett or maybe Nathan Lyon.

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The main reason “Gary” could be dropped is that he was barely used in Perth, bowling just two overs and batting for 45 minutes in the two-day victory at Optus Stadium. Should the Aussies want to keep spin, Doggett will be the first to make way.

On the other side, England batting allrounder Will Jacks, who bowls off-spin, replaces the injured Mark Wood.