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Former Australia cricketer David Warner backed Usman Khawaja to make a return to the side's playing XI for the third Ashes Test that will commence from December 17. He feels that Travis Head can slip back down to the middle-order, adding that this would be a worse result for the England team as both the players will be batting on their favourable positions.
“I think Uzzy comes back in, slides to the top, and Trav goes down. That’s probably a worse result for England, Travis Head going back down the order," Warner told reporters.
“At the end of the day, Travis put his hand up to bat in the situation he was in. He came out an dbatted in the way Travis Head does. You see plenty of interviews from Trav saying that is Uzzy’s spot, and if and when the time comes, they as him to go up the order, he wouldn’t mind doing that," he added.
Khawaja's fitness issues
These comments come after Khawaja was ruled out of the second Test in Brisbane due to the back spasms he sustained during the series opener. He didn't open the batting in any of Australia's innings in Perth and despite being included in the squad for the pink-ball Test, he eventually withdrew as he wasn't able to recover in time.
Head and Weatherald deliver as openers
In his place, Head was elevated up the batting order and opened the innings alongside Jake Weatherald. The two formed one fifty-plus stand each in both the first and second Test and their success raised questions over Khawaja's return to the playing XI. With both Head and Weatherald being in great form, Australia may not make a change to the opening pair. It now remains to be seen as to if Khawaja will be included in the side's playing XI for the upcoming match.
Australia's squad for 3rd Ashes Test: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
Enggland's squad for The Ashes: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
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