Ashes 2021-22: Usman Khawaja has no regrets over follow-on call giving Travis Head show time

Sometimes a man’s personal aspirations do not neatly dovetail into team plans — but Usman Khawaja knew he had just one choice and the cost could be monumental.

Usman Khawaja insists he will have no regrets if the first follow-on call of his career costs him the chance to don his baggy green cap at the Gabba next week.

The tussle between Khawaja and Travis Head for the number five position for next week’s Ashes opener at the Gabba is so tight one big innings always had the potential to sway things.

Queensland captain Khawaja put his team’s cause ahead of his own by enforcing the follow-on against South Australia in the just-completed Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

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The call fast-tracked a Queensland victory but gave Head the chance to slap down an impressive 101 in the second innings.

Khawaja then put the foot to the floor with a breezy 52 not out off 36 balls but Head’s innings was the headliner.

“I was just trying to win the game,’’ Khawaja said after landing back in Brisbane on Monday.

“I have said it a million times. I am not playing games for Queensland thinking of the next level. All those things are irrelevant. I am just thinking about trying to make the best calls.

“There was a lot of moisture in the wicket and it was spinning massively. I knew the wicket was only going to get better. I am normally a very reluctant ‘follow-on-eror’. It is the first time I have ever done it. I have had opportunities before — plenty of them.

“Trav batted really well. I gave credit to him afterwards and even when he scored it. I thought it was a really good hundred. He’s a very good player. It does not bother me who they pick. It was about winning the game.’’

Usman Khawaja hits out during the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia.

Khawaja has not received any word on who is the favourite for the hotly contested Test spot.

“I don’t know. I am preparing as if I am playing which I think you have to. If I am not I will cross the other bridge. Either way I will be playing cricket so it is not too much for me to think about.’’

Meanwhile, Sydney Sixers star Moises Henriques admits he was disappointed to be told by selectors he had missed contention for the No. 5 batting position being contested by Khawaja.

Henriques was looking likely to make the top six had Australia’s tour of South Africa not been cancelled earlier this year, and despite a strong end to the Sheffield Shield season as well was left out of the Australian and Australia A squads.

Khawaja and Alex Carey know a tough decision will have to be made over the No. 5 position in the Test team.

“From my point of view I definitely don’t agree with the decision and how I went from being very close to playing in South Africa if it had gone ahead to not being selected in either the Australia or Australia A teams,” Henriques told News Corp.

“That wasn’t easy to get that feedback and George (Bailey) and the selection committee spoke to me. It’s not my job to agree with decisions it’s just my job to accept them and move on.

“Sometimes calls like that don’t go your way, and then there’s been other times in the past where calls have gone my way and maybe I felt like I didn’t deserve to be in the squad and I have been.

“George and I are good mates and it probably makes it a bit tougher for him to give that feedback. “I’m sure if I’m good enough there will be another opportunity but if I’m not there won’t, so the rest is up to me.”

Healy: The one mistake Smith can’t afford to make

Steve Smith’s first step towards becoming a successful Test vice-captain will be to park his ambitions to be the top dog.

This is the view booming out from the history books and several key voices who have done the role as former captain Smith prepares to take on deputy position under Pat Cummins this Ashes summer.

“You cannot be aspiring to the leadership … your job is totally different,’’ said Ian Healy in a generic reference to the vice-captaincy.

“You are not the captain. Let the captain do his job. You get the team right.’’

Healy’s comments follow those of captain Michael Clarke who said that “there can only be one captain.’’

Smith craved a return to the head role but has claimed he will be satisfied supporting new leader Cummins in a role featuring more responsibility than any Australian vice-captain has ever had.

Australia has had a patchy history of Test match vice-captains.

Most who do the job well were wicketkeepers like Adam Gilcrhrist, Healy or Brad Haddin who had no designs on the Test captaincy.

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Ian Healy has implored Steve Smith not to aspire to take the captaincy reigns while acting as vice captain. Picture: AFP

Haddin even knocked back the captaincy when it was offered to him, allowing Steve Smith to take over from Clarke.

Problems have arisen when vice-captains coveted the top job and were marking time in the deputy’s role.

While Smith will be heavily involved in the tactical side of proceedings as Cummins will hand him the steering wheel while he is bowling, Healy said a key factor in the role was looking after the mood of the team.

“The vice-captain needs to ensure the environment is good for all, not only those who are performing really well. You need to be making sure you are tipping energy back into those not going well.

“There needs to be spark and fun, maybe some social organisation. Things like ‘where are we going for dinner?’’ He will have to demonstrate a lot of energy and thinking about others even more than the captain does.

“The captain thinks about the team and the strategy. The vice-captain thinks about players and works with the coaching staff to ensure they are as on top of their game as they can be. Not every one of the 12 players are enjoying themselves. There is always some stress with players.’’

Steve Smith chats to former Australian captain Tim Paine. AFP

Haddin feels the vice-captaincy is the perfect re-entrance to the leadership scene for Smith following a two-year ban from holding such positions after the ball tampering Test in Cape Town in 2018.

“It’s a great opportunity, to see if Steve wants to get back into leadership,’’ Haddin said.

“He’s done a lot of work on himself over a long period of time and I think he’s becoming a better leader than he was when he first got the captain, all the development he’s done. And it’s a great opportunity now to see if he wants to continue down being back in the spotlight as the leader.

“He might decide he doesn’t want to be back there, he might be outstanding at it and everything moves forward. I think it’s not a bad thing for him to test the waters again. He’s developed a lot over the last period of time.’’

Originally published as Ashes 2021-22: Usman Khawaja has no regrets over follow-on call giving Travis Head show time