Wade or Head? The answer’s Khawaja

The Dalai Lama, rarely calmer, was once asked by an American psychiatrist to explain why one of his patients continued to take drugs and get on the booze and find herself in the beds of strangers when she knew it was self-destructive behaviour that was unlikely to end in anything but tears. His holiness had a bit of a Zen-like pause and think before laughing and replying, “I don’t know!”

Justin Langer has been something of a spiritual leader for Australian cricket since the Cape Town disaster, determined yet calm like a Tibetan yogi apart from when he kicked that rubbish bin over while Ben Stokes was running away with the Edgbaston Test. Rarely has Langer appeared more glorious than when he dutifully cleaned up the mess, returning the bin to its upright position as if apologising to it before picking the litter off the floor. It was the most respectful and decent blow-up of all time. If the Dalai Lama was a Test coach, he’d be Langer. If a Test coach could get away with wearing ochre robes and chanting Aum, it’d be Langer. Next time he’s asked whether certain Australia team selections will end in tears, in particular the merry-go-round between Travis Head and Matthew Wade, he should steal the Dalai Lama’ line and avoid over-analysing it all. He should throw his hands in the air and say, I don’t know!

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Wade’s dismissal for 13 on day two of the SCG Test was a shocker for a couple of reasons. It was a poorly executed shot and it came at the wrong time. Wade knew the second new ball was coming for India and the best thing he could do for Australia was take it on with Steve Smith. Throwing his wicket away with twitchy top edge not only sent him off for an early shower. It exposed greenhorn all rounder Cameron Green to the danger of Jasprit Bumrah and the shiny new rock. When Green was promptly trapped LBW for a duck, Wade seemed partly to blame. There was no need for Wade to be so aggressive to the spin of Ravi Jadeja. He just had to hold the fort while Smith was rattling along, mindful of the match situation: having opened for Australia this series, and as a veteran player, he was more qualified to combat Bumrah’s next spell. Wade let himself down, and Green, and the side.

Which raised the question all over again. Who’s the best No 5 option for Australia out of Wade and Head? Probably Usman Khawaja. He’s still in the top half-dozen Test batsmen in the country for class but of course, if you saw his interactions with Langer in the documentary about the last Ashes series, it’s difficult to avoid the perception of a personality clash that carries over into selections. Langer has made it clear, post-sandpapergate, that he’s wanted character over cover drives but gee, Khawaja’s flourish through the off-side still has a bit going for it. He made a Sheffield Shield hundred this season, he’s been in sparkling BBL touch, he’s made eight Test hundreds and averages 40.66, but I haven‘t heard him mentioned. Wade is full of character but his Test average is 31. Head has just as much character but his average is 39. Come next summer’s Ashes series, I think Australia’s best top order is this: Dave Warner, Will Pucovski, Marcus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green. The question inside the question is this: Does the rather laidback and loosey-goosey Khawaja have to perform above and beyond to convince Langer of his worth? Only Langer knows. He hasn’t played for Australia since the credits rolled on that 2019 Ashes, and the doco that laid bare the moments of tension with Langer. A coincidence that he hasn’t worn the baggy green since? I think we probably know.