Barry Richards says Travis Head holds the power in Australia’s Ashes opening debate

One of the greatest openers in Test history has declared Usman Khawaja’s Test career could be brutally ended this week by a four-word sentence.

One of cricket’s greatest opening batsmen feels Usman Khawaja’s future could be decided by a four-word sentence.

Former South African batting great Barry Richards believes Khawaja’s future is out of his hands and will be decided by how firm Travis Head wants to be about his intention to stay as an opener.

Former Australian Test coach Darren Lehmann and ex-Test selector Merv Hughes told this masthead on Saturday they expect Khawaja to keep his place for the second Test against England at the Gabba on Thursday.

But as debate swirls on the openers future, Richards senses Khawaja’s career is at the mercy of Head after the left-hander’s stunning first Test century when he deputised for the injured Khawaja at the top of the order in the second innings.

“Travis Head is the man with the power in this call,’’ said Richards, in Brisbane for the Test.

“If he goes to Steve Smith and says “I want to open’’ then that should be the end of it.

“It’s important that he means it because to do well as an opener you really have to want to do it. If he doesn’t it’s another discussion. Australia has had Marnus (Labuschagne) and Steve Smith do the job but I’m not sure they really wanted to be openers.’’

Travis Head and Usman Khawaja in the middle together in Sri Lanka.

Head has hinted in a string of radio interviews since his hurricane century he would enjoy doing the opening role but it is yet to be revealed whether he has had detailed discussions with the selectors about his future since the innings.

During one interview he said “I haven’t been open with the media but I’ve been open in the background where I have stood with it’’ which was assumed to mean he wanted to do the role.

Former openers Mark Taylor and Simon Katich believe Head should continue as an opener but Lehmann feels Khawaja will hold his spot.

“As long as he is fit he will play,’’ Lehmann told this masthead at the Symonds-Warne Invitational golf day at Royal Pines which saluted the memory of the late Andrew Symonds and Shane Warne.

“If he is ruled out I would say Head would open and Josh Inglis would come in but if Usman is fit I feel they will stay more traditional with the pink ball.

“Travis will be dangerous down the order with an older pink ball. But Usman will have to score runs. Age catches up to us all. It is a big two weeks for him.’’

Hughes said Khawaja deserved another chance.

“You don’t drop someone because they are too old,’’ Hughes said of 38-year-old Khawaja. “You drop someone because they are not doing their job and we don’t know whether he can still do his job because in Perth he didn’t open.

“If Khawaja was in the first Test team and they won do you think he is going to be in the team for the second Test. Yes. But the big thing with the Australian selectors is they have options.’’

Originally published as Barry Richards says Travis Head holds the power in Australia’s Ashes opening debate