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Battle on to join Warner at top of order

CRICKET: Australian Ashes attention has turned to who opens the batting with David Warner, and who comes in at number six, after Usman Khawaja declared himself a nearcertainty for the first Test.

Khawaja hasn’t played since Australia’s final group game at the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury on July 6.

He didn’t bat in the intrasquad match at Southampton, the only red-ball warm-up for Australia’s World Cup players, but had a long centre-wicket hitout when it concluded.

The 31-year-old, who was the leading one-day run scorer in the world in 2019 before his injury, said he needed only to tick one final fitness box to get the all-clear to play at Edgbaston on Thursday.

“I’m just about running at full speed now, I did a session yesterday that was just about at full speed, so not too far off,” Khawaja said. “Tomorrow (yesterday in England) will probably be the last big one I do, probably the last level of running that I have to do. The highest level. If I do that then I think I’ll be available for selection. I think it’s going really well at the moment.”

Khawaja said despite being limited he had missed very little batting practice since he hurt himself, so didn’t feel his preparation had been hampered.

“A hamstring doesn’t really stop you from batting, it stops you from sprinting. so it’s only sprinting stuff that has really stopped me,” he said.

“Everything else, I haven’t really actually changed too much. I’ve been hitting a lot of balls, so that point of view hasn’t been that different.”

While Khawaja is ready to take up his position at number three, and both David Warner and Steve Smith back in their customary roles in the top four, the rest of the batting order remains unclear.

Travis Head will likely bat at number five, but Matthew Wade and Marnus Labuschagne are in the running to come in at number six. Most expect

Marcus Harris, as the incumbent Test opener, should get the first chance to partner Warner. But Cameron Bancroft has impressed all since he rejoined the group and the option of a right and left hand combination could yet sway selectors.

It’s understood selection chairman Trevor Hohns and Justin Langer are keen on confirming the team sooner rather than later, after several players were left on edge last week before the naming of the squad.

Rain could also hamper training, with showers most days before the Test, and during it.