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Australia’s veteran opener Usman Khawaja has been ruled out of the second Test of the Ashes 2025-26 owing to the back injury which aggravated during the Perth Test. Khawaja batted for 30 minutes in the nets on December 2 and it was clear that he hasn’t attained the fitness levels needed to play in the pink-ball Test at The Gabba. He was in discomfort and will add to the list of injured players for Australia already featuring skipper Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott.
"Khawaja will remain with the team to continue his rehabilitation," Cricket Australia said in a statement. "He has not been replaced in the squad."
It is clear that Khawaja has not been ruled out of the Test series but his future remains unclear. In the first Test, he left the field due to back spasm during England’s first innings. As he could not return to field in time, Marnus Labuschagne opened the innings alongside debutant Jake Weatherald and Khawaja batted in the middle order. In the run chase, Khawaja could not bat. Travis Head put his hand up and scored a blazing ton to snatch a victory on Day 2 of the Perth Test.
Head has already made it clear that he is willing to open in Tests as well after his Perth blitzkrieg. Weatherald may retain his place after a crucial knock in the run chase, sharing a 75-run partnership with Head.
Webster or Inglis for pink-ball Test?
However, the questions arises, who will replace Khawaja in the playing eleven. Australia have two clear-cut options. Since it is a pink-ball Test, Beau Webster may walk into the side as another seam option. In the middle-order, Cameron Green can be aggressor while Webster can play a more traditional role. 32-year-old Webster claimed a fifer against South Australia last month. He also scored a half century for Tasmania against South Australia in the Marsh One-Day Cup encounter. He batted at no.3 in the white-ball game.
The other option for Australia is wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis. He played a Head-esque knock for Cricket Australia XI against England Lions at Perth's Lilac Hill. In the run chase of 232, he scored an unbeaten 125 off 107 balls as opener, featuring 15 fours and two sixes. He could also fit in Australia’s new-found philosophy of choosing an opener as per situation. Inglis can open or bat in the middle order.
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