Australia opener Usman Khawaja is poised to return for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, though his comeback does not guarantee a slot at the top of the order.
Khawaja did not open in Australia’s first innings during the Perth Test after a back issue kept him off the field for an extended period while England batted. Marnus Labuschagne filled in initially, but it was Travis Head who made the most of the opportunity on day two, smashing a match-defining Ashes century.
If Khawaja is brought back into the XI, he is most likely to resume his role as opener, which would push Head back to No. 5. However, head coach Andrew McDonald clarified that opening is not the veteran left-hander’s only possible role. A recall for Khawaja would likely mean Josh Inglis misses out.
“We’ve got a lot of players that are really invested in this series, and they’ll do anything for the team,” McDonald said on Tuesday.
“And the assumption is that ‘Uzzie’ can only open as well, I think that he does have the flexibility (to bat elsewhere). We like to think that all our batters have the flexibility to be able to perform anywhere in that order.
“We’ve got a collective group of batters there that, as the series wears on, the opposition may create some different challenges for us. So we’re open to what it would look like for us moving forward.”
Khawaja previously batted at No. 5 when he returned to the Test side during the 2021–22 Ashes before shifting up to partner David Warner at the top. McDonald noted that moving him down the order again has not been in the conversation.
“We’ve been looking for a partner for him. He’s been a stable piece up there, so we haven’t discussed moving him previously,” he said.
“But we’re open to what the batting model would look like moving forward should there be any moving parts. Whether Trav (Travis Head) opens, whether he goes back to the middle, that will all play out. We’re taking it Test by Test.”