Veteran opener Usman Khawaja is facing being dropped from the Australian Ashes team for Brisbane, whether he recovers from the back spasms that plagued him through the Perth Test clash or not.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald refused to say Khawaja would be selected for the second Ashes Test when speaking to media after going 1-0 in the rivalry series against England, leaving question marks over his openers.
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Many – this Sporting Base writer included – would now be hoping to see Travis Head get another, proper crack at opening against the Poms after blazing a historic knock to win the match on day two. Head blasted 123 to all but run down England after several bloodbath bowling spells from both teams, and proved he could be stable at the top of the order.
Another option, Josh Inglis, has also returned to talks after dishing up an unbeaten 125 off 107 while opening for the second-grade Cricket Australia XI side against the reserve squad England Lions at Lilac Hill this week.
And even Matt Renshaw has been batting well in the Shield, running up 112 at the Gabba on Sunday.
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With Khawaja still to be assessed injury-wise (he had to pull out of another pro-am golfing day he had lined up mid-week) and potentially in the hot seat regardless, considering how he came into the Test, McDonald is now looking at all options. “We get to camp in six days time (in Brisbane) so it’s a long way out, a lot of information to gather,” he said.
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“That back spasm took its toll in the first innings and got worse into day two, which is… pretty common,” McDonald continued. “Unfortunate for him, but it opened up for Heady to go up there and do what he did, which was amazing.”
Khawaja has gone through six different opening partners since David Warner retired from Test cricket in January 2024, and now it may be that he’ll be the next to be changed as the search for a new Aussie number one goes on.
Elsewhere, Pat Cummins may be kept on ice another Test with Aus now up 1-0 in the Ashes series.
