There will be a spot for Usman Khawaja in the Australian team for the home Ashes, and maybe beyond, after a blistering double-century in the Sri Lanka series opener.
That’s according to coach Andrew McDonald, who sees “plenty of cricket” left in the 38-year-old opener despite public debate about his future during the home summer.
Khawaja managed only two scores above 40 in five Tests against India, but silenced his critics with the best knock of his Test career in the first match in Galle.
His blistering 232 in the first innings set Australia on the path to a day-four victory by an innings and 242 runs – their biggest win in Asia and the Sri Lankan Test team’s worst ever loss.
Khawaja has previously voiced his desire to feature in this summer’s home Ashes, during which he will turn 39, and his wish looks set to come true.
“We still think he’s got plenty of cricket left in him,” McDonald said when asked what Khawaja’s double-century would do for his Ashes chances.
“Tough summer. (Indian quick Jasprit) Bumrah. I think that’s probably where we landed in our summary of that one.”
Steve Smith pointed out his long-time mate had spent the India series tackling one of cricket’s hardest assignments: facing a fresh Bumrah, the ICC’s top-ranked bowler, with the new ball in seam-friendly conditions.
“There’s probably not a much bigger threat in world cricket at the moment, or almost ever,” Smith said.
“Batting at the top of the order, particularly in Australia, is as hard as I’ve seen in my career.”
McDonald always had high hopes Khawaja would bounce back when Australia returned to the subcontinent for the first time in two years.
Khawaja had been the top run-scorer on either side when Australia toured India in 2023 – no mean feat given his struggles in Asia earlier in his career.
His subsequent mastery of the conditions were on full show in Galle, with the left-hander bringing out the reverse-sweep to particularly devastating effect.
“He’s an important part to the way that we play subcontinent conditions,” McDonald said.
“He’s been through the wringer here before. (But he has been) able to come through that, to have a method that is successful, whether it be on the flatter side (or) whether it gets extreme.
“The unquantifiable is the conversations he’s having with the next generation to get them prepared.
“We value that.”
Facing England at home would allow Khawaja to come full circle.
England’s last visit in 2022 marked the beginning of a Test comeback for Khawaja, who had been dropped from the Test team during the previous Ashes in 2019.
He recorded two centuries as Travis Head’s COVID-19 replacement in the fourth Ashes Test in 2022, then ousted out-of-form Marcus Harris from the top of the order for the fifth.
Khawaja has been a fixture of the team ever since, averaging 51.4 with eight centuries in that time.
“He’s still doing everything right, he’s catching well in the slips. He’s a senior figure and he’s batting really well,” said stand-in captain Smith.
“I’m not a selector, but I’m sure as long as he wants to play, I’m happy with him there.”
Changes to the Australia batting order appear unlikely for the second Test in Galle given the first featured the team’s largest ever total on the subcontinent (6-654 declared).
But McDonald said there would certainly be shifts for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.
By then, allrounder Cameron Green should have recovered from his back injury well enough to bat, while opener Sam Konstas will push for a recall in conditions more similar to home.
“We’ll keep our options open as a general theme,” McDonald said.
“(But) 100 per cent it’ll be a different order to that (the first Sri Lanka Test). What the order looks like will depend on the conditions.”
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