Former Aussie Test star Mike Hussey believes Usman Khawaja should be recalled as opener for the Third Ashes Test starting on Wednesday, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
Khawaja missed the Second Test win in Brisbane after battling through the opening Test in Perth with back spasms.
In his absence, Travis Head played a starring role with many experts fearing the makeshift’s form would spell the end of Khawaja’s Test career.
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But speaking on Fox Cricket, Hussey believes Khawaja has done enough to fight for his spot.
“I’d bring him straight back in and I’d move Travis Head back down to number five,” Hussey said.
Khawaja ‘100%’ for third Ashes test | 03:14
“I just think Usman Khawaja’s basically had one innings here in Perth with back spasms. Coming into the series, Usman Khawaja was our number one guy opening the batting – we weren’t sure who the other guy would be!
“What’s changed after one innings?
“He’s recovered from his back injury now. Get him back in there at the top of the order.”
With Head returning to his spot in the middle order, Hussey believes that’s where he can be damaging against England who are on the ropes heading to Adelaide down 2-0 in the series.
“Get Travis Head back down to number five,” Hussey said.
“I know Travis Head played an amazing innings here (as opener in Perth in the First Test) – but I just like him at number five.
“Opening the batting consistently at Test cricket is difficult, very difficult. I just feel like Travis Head can be more consistent in the middle order.”
Should Khawaja return to the team, that would leave Josh Inglis as the man to make way Hussey believes.
“Unfortunately for him, (Inglis) makes way,” he said.
“It’s a tough call – he looked pretty good up at the Gabba as well but didn’t get a massive score. He was sort of the back up batter as it was.”
Fellow Aussie great Adam Gilchrist agreed Inglis would be the man to go should Khawaja get the nod.
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“I think they will do that (drop Inglis and bring back Khawaja),” he said.
“I think the brains trust will say that’s the percentage play – get Usman’s experience there, go back to a more traditional opening method.
“Travis Head can then come into the middle order and really make some strong contributions and maybe still up the tempo if he needs to in that middle order.
“I think Usman will be at the top.
“It would be a tough call to say picking Usman here in that First Test match and saying ‘you’re our trump, you’re experienced, that’s who we build our order around with a debutant in the form of (Jake) Weatherald’, it’s a tough call to then say because of injury that’s the end of your career effectively.”
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Hussey feared too many “jumped the gun” to decide Head was the man to open for Australia in the future.
“It was a phenomenal innings from Travis Head … Sometimes you have one of those days. Everything just goes perfect – that was one of those days (in Perth),” he said.
“Game after game after game, if you keep stacking it up it’s not that easy to be that consistent or that dynamic at the top of the order in Test match cricket.
“Khawaja has done it for a long period of time. He’s got a lot of experience opening the batting.
“Travis Head coming in the middle order in Adelaide … a tiring attack … he can be just as devastating if not more devastating for Australia through there.”
The Third Ashes Test will begin in Adelaide on Wednesday.
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