Pieces of batting puzzle fall into place as Khawaja beats injury

Australia’s attention turns to who opens with David Warner after Usman Khawaja declared himself a near-certainty for the first Test.

Australian top-order batsman Usman Khawaja has been busy working on his hamstring issues while the rest of the squad battled it out for a place in the final touring side. Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s Ashes attention has turned to who opens the batting with David Warner, and who comes in at No 6, after Usman Khawaja declared himself a near-certainty for the first Test.

Khawaja hasn’t played since Australia’s final group game at the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury on July 6.

He didn’t bat in the intra-squad match at Southampton, the only red-ball warm-up for Australia’s World Cup players, but had a long centre-wicket hitout when the match concluded.

The 31-year-old, who was the leading one-day runscorer in the world in 2019 before his injury, said he needed only to tick one final fitness box to get the all-clear to play at Edgbaston on Thursday.

“I’m just about running at full speed now, I did a session yesterday that was just about at full speed, so not too far off,” he said in Birmingham on Sunday.

“Tomorrow (Monday in England) will probably be the last big one I do, probably the last level of running that I have to do. The highest level. If I do that then I think I'll be available for selection.

“I think it’s going really well at the moment.”

Khawaja said despite being limited he had missed very little batting practice since he hurt himself, so didn’t feel his preparation had been hampered.

“A hamstring doesn’t really stop you from batting, it stops you from sprinting. so it’s only sprinting stuff that has really stopped me,” he said.

“Everything else, I haven’t really actually changed too much. I’ve been hitting a lot of balls, so that point of view hasn’t been that different.”

While Khawaja is ready to take up his position at No 3, and both Warner and Steve Smith should be back in their customary roles in the top four, the rest of the batting order remains unclear.

Travis Head will likely bat at No 5, but both Matthew Wade and Marnus Labuschagne are in the running to come in at No 6.

Most expect Marcus Harris, as the incumbent Test opener, to get the first chance to partner Warner. But Cameron Bancroft has impressed since he rejoined the group and the option of a right and left combination could yet sway selectors.

Herald Sun