Usman Khawaja in firing line as tension rises for under-pressure Australian batsmen against India

Pressure is on for Australia’s top six to chase a tricky fourth innings target to win this volatile final Test and secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. And it starts with Usman Khawaja.

Usman Khawaja’s hopes of forging on to another home summer and a potential SCG Ashes farewell could be shaped by whether he can help guide Australia to a historic victory on day three.

The man who resurrected his career three summers ago with blockbusting back-to-back centuries against England on this same ground in Sydney will have another shot at securing an epic career highlight for him and his team.

But nothing will come easily for Australia on the spiciest SCG pitch in 10 years and with a decade-long Border-Gavaskar Trophy hoodoo to get off their back.

Australia’s inconsistent batting line-up was once again embarrassed by India on day two in similar circumstances to their capitulation in the first Test in Perth back in late November – unable to get a first innings lead chasing just 185 against an attack which lost Jasprit Bumrah halfway through.

There is now massive pressure on members of the top six to chase a tricky fourth innings target to win this volatile final Test and secure Australia the silverware that has eluded them for a decade.

The pressure is on for Usman Khawaja and Australia’s batting line-up. Picture: AFP

Khawaja at 38 years of age and the up-and-down Marnus Labuschagne are the men most in the gun as Australia sweat on Indian superstar Bumrah being unable to bowl after leaving the SCG for scans on Saturday.

A golden opportunity is within reach, but this match is still on a knife’s edge and a nerve-racking day awaits.

Australia will be cursing their luck with the arrival of this lively new Tahoma 31 grass at the SCG which has given Sydney its most enthralling Test in a decade at a time when all Pat Cummins’ team needed was a draw to win the series.

SCG curator Adam Lewis warned Australia this would be a result deck and he was 100 per cent right.

Marnus Labuschagne is also feeling the pressure for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

It’s been a cracker of a surface and one that’s for the betterment of Test cricket, but can you imagine a pitch like this being rolled out in the sub-continent if the roles were reversed and it was India trying to defend a 2-1 lead to claim the series?

Say what you want about Australia, but curators simply don’t produce coaching box ordered doctored decks in this country and that’s a good thing.

Australia can’t use the sparkling surface as an excuse because it was the same for both teams and debutant Beau Webster certainly didn’t look troubled ploughing his way to 57 off 105 balls.

Losing Steve Smith in the over before lunch when he was five runs short of his 10,000 run milestone was a massive turning point.

If Smith (33) gets to lunch with the record ticked off, look out India in the middle session.

Alex Carey then looked comfortable in partnership with Webster for his 21 before he got a good ball to bowl him through the gate to expose the tail with 50 runs still needed to achieve parity.

The lower order can’t be expected to bail Australia out of trouble every time like it did at the MCG last week.

Sam Konstas showed initiative and boldness for his 23, but former Australian coach Justin Langer was critical on Channel 7 of his shot selection trying to drive Mohammed Siraj.

The bottom line is – win or lose in this Test – Australia has an ageing line-up and selectors must seriously look at regeneration before next summer’s Ashes against England.

It has already started with Mitchell Marsh, 33, being axed for Webster in Sydney and Konstas being blooded in Melbourne.

Prior to this series, Khawaja’s record as an opener has been excellent and he has the skills against spin bowling to make a compelling case for him to tour Sri Lanka later this month regardless of what happens on Sunday.

Usman Khawaja will be eyeing a return to form at the SCG. Picture: AFP

But if Khawaja can’t fire on day three in Sydney, a ground which has been his field of dreams ever since he grew up a few blocks away, then the pressure on his future in the team will build quickly.

Australia has two Tests in Sri Lanka, a potential Test Championship Final in the UK, and then three Tests in the West Indies before the Ashes starts in November.

If selectors decide new blood is needed, they can’t delay too long.

Labuschagne has done some good things this summer, but his half centuries have come sporadically and he still needs a big hundred to fully safeguard his place in the top six.

Australia might win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and book a place in the World Test Championship Final on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t big selection decisions on the horizon.

Originally published as Usman Khawaja in firing line as tension rises for under-pressure Australian batsmen against India