Uzzie adrift in pecking order

USMAN Khawaja’s role continues to diminish and with every batting demotion he is increasingly likely to find himself out of Australia’s World Cup team.

While Khawaja’s strike rate after four games sits north of 100, he has blasted just one six from his past nine ODIs and has struggled since being replaced by David Warner as opener. Khawaja (pictured right) batted at No. 3 in Australia’s first two games, came in at No.4 against India and was then pushed to No.6 against Pakistan.

The world’s leading run-scorer in 2019 is yet to score a half-century at the World Cup. Steve Smith and Aaron Finch have two while Warner has two plus a century.

Coach Justin Langer forecast new roles for his players because of Smith and Warner’s return.

“We had a really good game plan in India and the UAE and then we have Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Steve Smith come back in the side,” Langer said. “The discussion with Davey and Uzzie and Finchy and Shaun Marsh with where they play, well they’ve got to play different roles now, because there’s two new guys coming in.”

Khawaja remains an ideal No.3 if Australia loses an early wicket, however he is not the man Langer wants coming in after a hot start. That was evident against Pakistan, where Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Shaun Marsh were all elevated above Khawaja after Warner and Finch put on 146.

That is because Khawaja does not have the gears to come in and keep on accelerating through the middle overs, particularly with the field spread.

While promoting Maxwell (20 off 10) to No.4 backfired against Pakistan, Khawaja was set to be in an awkward position whether Maxwell came off or not. When Warner and Maxwell fell, it triggered a collapse of 6-30 in 42 balls.