For the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, David Warner has supported his former opening partner Usman Khawaja to return to the top of the order because he thinks that Travis Head at No. 5 will cause England the most trouble.
Australia’s selectors will have a tough decision to make before the game where the home team might win the Ashes if Khawaja is cleared to play after suffering back spasms. Head and Jake Weatherald, the latter in his debut Test series, had formed two significant partnerships since Khawaja was unable to open in Perth.
Although there are differing views on Australia’s best course of action, coach Andrew McDonald proposed that Khawaja be used in the middle order. Warner, however, believes they ought to go back to their first strategy.
Prior to leading the Sydney Thunder in the BBL, Warner told reporters, “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.”
At No. 5, Head averages 41.46 and has scored eight of his 10 Test hundreds, including three at Adelaide Oval, his home ground. Warner noted that when Khawaja departs, head opening might still be an option, but he claimed there was no assurance it would be successful in the long run.
“At the end of the day, Travis put his hand up to bat in the situation he was in,” Warner stated.
“Like Travis Head, he came out and batted. Trav frequently states in interviews that Uzzy belongs there and that he would not mind moving up the list if asked to do so.
“In prior years, we didn’t have that aggressor in the middle order. Australia now has that as well, and if Uzzy hangs them up, they can appear that way going forward, regardless of what he chooses to do.
However, we must all acknowledge that it might not work and that Travis will need to move back down the line. After then, they will need to find a new replacement. The selectors are suffering from a headache.
Matt Renshaw of Queensland was recommended by Warner as the long-term choice to open after Khawaja retires.
“We’ve got a lot of young [opening] talent there at the moment that’s coming through,” he stated. “However, I will advise George Bailey and the selectors to have confidence in Jake Weatherald, who is 31 years old. Experience, in my opinion, is also crucial.
“So, if they choose him, good for them. But Renshaw might be one in the future. He’ll probably slide right back in there, in my opinion. He’s experienced Test cricket.
Warner retired in early 2024, and Australia hasn’t had a consistent opening lineup since. Khawaja had played 15 Test matches with five different opening partners before getting hurt.
Although this series concludes at the SCG, where he revitalised his Test career with twin hundreds in early 2022, Khawaja has not publicly discussed his desired career ending point, in contrast to Warner’s actions prior to the 2023 Ashes.
“At the end of the day, having been in that situation, you still have to score runs,” Warner stated. “If you score runs and the selectors continue to support you, you will deserve [the perfect farewell]. His current position is not coincidental. He is 38 years old and is aware of the requirements.
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