Khawaja in gun after demoralising Test loss
AUSTRALIA could be set to backflip on its plan to give Usman Khawaja pre-Ashes crease time, after Steve O’Keefe’s shock recall pointed towards a rare three-pronged spin attack for the second Test.
Captain Steve Smith admits selectors will have to contemplate changes after yesterday’s demoralising 20-run loss to minnow Bangladesh, and says three spinners is on the cards for the second Test in Chittagong.
O’Keefe’s dramatic return to the fold has come so far out of left field it is hard to imagine he is flying to Bangladesh for a holiday, and — though the wicket would need to be properly inspected first — it seems likely the ultra-consistent leftarmer will line up alongside Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar in a bid to save Australia from an embarrassing series loss.
Josh Hazlewood’s injury has opened the door for it to be the first time in 10 years Australia has played three spinners in a Test, but if that bold plan is to come to fruition, Khawaja’s position would first have to come under the microscope.
To compensate for going into a Test with Pat Cummins as the only fast bowler, selectors may look for allrounder Hilton Cartwright to also come in as a back-up seam option and if that happens Khawaja should be nervous.
Wicketkeeper Matt Wade may also be nervous, though replacing him with Peter Handscomb would be a drastic change.
Khawaja’s fate shapes as a vexing decision for selectors, who must weigh up the potential impact on the left-hander’s confidence and mindset leading into an Ashes series.
Khawaja was upset he was not given more than two Tests in Sri Lanka last year, and given he has spent the past six months on the sidelines mixing drinks, only giving him one match in Bangladesh would be a tough call for a player Smith has declared is “key” for the Ashes.
However, Khawaja has left himself highly vulnerable with two unconvincing dismissals in Dhaka.
One was a calamitous run out and the other a mistimed sweep shot when Australia was desperately trying to build its run chase.