Former Australia skipper rejects Usman Khawaja; chooses Travis Head for the final Ashes Test

Australia’s Usman Khawaja could not have asked for a better comeback than this. The Aussie batsman, playing his first Test in the fourth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), since his last Test match in the 2019 Ashes, scripted a glorious turnaround after he notched his ninth Test century. His superb ton helped Australia in taking full control of the fourth Test against England and the selectors will surely be having a headache in choosing the best combination for the next Test match against England scheduled to start on January 14. 

Head tested positive

Khawaja found his place in the squad after middle-order batsman Travis Head was ruled out as he was tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Khawaja came back to the squad after two years. In his last Test appearance, the southpaw scored 31 runs (including both the innings) and England went on to defeat the Aussies in that fixture. 

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting feels that Head’s return to the team for the Hobart Test is imminent and that will happen only by removing Khawaja from the squad.

“It just happens, it’s a huge call to make. But you’ve got to go back to what your first picked team was, because at the start of the series it was the strongest XI that Australia could put out. What it does do is just reaffirm in Usman’s own mind that he’s good enough for international level still and gives selectors the ammunition they need for future teams they’re picking,” Ponting was quoted while talking to cricket.com.au.

'A bit misunderstood…'

Ponting feels that the 35-year-old left-handed batsman has been a bit misunderstood both as a player and as a person.

“He’s been a bit misunderstood as a player and as a person throughout his career. That’s probably been something that a lot of people have held against him. But if you watch the way that he’s played today and look back at some of the other times in his career when things have been really difficult, more often than not he’s found a way to get the job done for himself and for his team,” explained Ponting.