Put up David Warner’s Take a look at retirement since January final 12 months, Australia have used 4 totally different openers aside from Usman Khawaja of their quest to discover a appropriate opening pair. With Khawaja being the main Take a look at run-getter for Australia within the present cycle with 1,422 runs, Australia nonetheless are to resolve Khawaja’s accomplice for the World Take a look at Championship remaining towards England beginning on Wednesday at Lords in England. The 38-year-old has spoken in regards to the uncertainty about his opening accomplice as not being any distraction for him.
“Not likely, to be sincere. Opening is so powerful…I’m nervous about how the ball goes to bowl to me and what I must do. The alternative, whoever’s opening with me is considering precisely the identical. Then we’re type of within the center working collectively on how we’re going to blunt out this assault. It doesn’t actually change my recreation an excessive amount of. If something, the change was in all probability somewhat bit quieter with out Davey. However for me, it’s nearly what I must do for my workforce after which the place I must work with my accomplice whereas I’m on the market.” Khawaja advised ICC Digital.
The Pat-Cummins led Australia facet sees the presence of Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Inglis, one in all whom are anticipated to be Khawaja’s accomplice within the WTC remaining. Khawaja, who has performed in 80 Assessments amassing 5,930 runs together with 16 a whole bunch and 27 half-centuries, was dropped by Australia for poor type in 2019. Khawaja then made a comeback to the Australian workforce in 2022 and has performed in 34 Assessments amassing 2,707 runs in 63 innings at a median of greater than 48 with seven centuries and 13 half-centuries. Khawaja struggled final 12 months within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a complete of 184 runs in 5 Take a look at matches. Put up the collection, Khawaja hit a double hundred within the opening take a look at of the two-test collection towards hosts Sri Lanka. Within the collection, Khawaja scored 305 runs in three innings. When requested about his ideas on his retirement, the 38-year-old mentioned he nonetheless has the starvation. “To me, age is irrelevant. If I’m nonetheless having fun with my recreation, nonetheless coaching actually laborious, I’m nonetheless scoring runs, nonetheless contributing to the workforce the place I can, I’ve nonetheless obtained the starvation. I don’t actually consider something as totally different, however I’m very open. I’m actually simply having fun with my cricket in the meanwhile. All the things that has a starting has an finish. I don’t know when that finish can be, however for me it’s all about staying within the second, having fun with it one Take a look at match at a time, one collection at a time. And when it’s time to hold up the boots, I’ll gracefully do this, no matter or not it’s,” mentioned Khawaja.
Earlier Australian chairman of selectors George Bailey had spoken in regards to the potential opening combos for Australia within the WTC remaining. “I believe Josh (Inglis) may do it, however I’ve mentioned the identical about Marnus (Labuschagne). I do assume it’s a job that extra folks may do. I do know there’s a prevailing thought that it’s a specialised position. In sure situations, there’s alternatives at totally different instances that guys may do it – whether or not that’s England for Josh, or whether or not it’s in that center order, the place he’s had success already.” Bailey had advised the media final month.