‘I will always back Davey’: Khawaja makes case for Warner to play fourth Ashes Test
Usman Khawaja expects David Warner to open the batting in the fourth Ashes Test, pointing to the unsung work the duo have gotten done for Australia this series, writes DANIEL CHERNY.
Usman Khawaja says he expects David Warner to be paired with him at the top of the order at Old Trafford this week, launching a defence of the under-fire opener.
Warner’s position in the Australian XI for the fourth Test has appeared up in the air since dual failures in the third Test at Leeds, with the situation amplified by Mitch Marsh’s century and two wickets filling in for Cameron Green, who is now available for selection.
Ahead of the series, Warner flagged his intended Test retirement date of the New Year’s match at the SCG, however with an average of 28.17 in the format over the past three years, making it that far is not guaranteed.
But Khawaja, a friend of Warner’s since childhood and his opening partner since early last year, said he believed the pair would walk out together when Australia’s first innings commences this week.
“Yep,” Khawaja said when asked whether he expected Warner to keep his spot, before pointing at nearby selector Tony Dodemaide as the man who should really be asked about the composition of the XI.
“If I will say anything from my point of view Dave Warner has been one of the greatest openers of all time. It is him and Haydos (Matthew Hayden) right up there for Australia I reckon, the top two ever. So I will always back Davey no matter what and I think the other guys will too.”
While Warner is averaging 23.5 for the series and has been dismissed three times by nemesis Stuart Broad – who has now removed Warner 17 times in Test cricket – Khawaja noted the pair had combined for three half-century opening stands during the series, stressing how difficult conditions could be for openers in England.
“It’s massive, it’s a thankless job. We go out there to start and got a really good start at Lord’s in heavy overhead conditions, I got out just last over before lunch but that sets up the game for us,” Khawaja said.
“As an opener sometimes you don’t always record your good days on how many runs you played, sometimes (it’s) just about grinding through those tough times, which we did in that Test match and then you’ve had three fifty-run partnerships against Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. That is as tough as it gets in England. You have to pay some respect to that.
“They’re all dangerous just like our bowlers, if you give our bowlers these conditions they’re very dangerous too.”
Green has said moving to the top of the order would be a “stretch” while backup opener Marcus Harris added the role required a specialist in English conditions.
Khawaja said he appreciated that Warner attracted considerable attention.
“The media will write what sells newspapers and I understand that. He’s probably the hot topic right now,” Khawaja said.
“I don’t know because I don’t really read the stuff and for that reason, at the end of day you’ve got to do your job, we’ve got to do our job.”
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