DOOR OPEN TO LAST MAN STANDING
FORMER national selector Mark Waugh says Australia would have to think about returning to Usman Khawaja as an opener for the Ashes amid a lack of depth and lingering concussion concerns for Will Pucovski.
Khawaja struck 174 in the second innings of Queensland’s Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia, but hasn’t played for the Test team since the 2019 Ashes in England.
Pucovski, 23, was heavily tipped to return to the Test side for this summer’s Ashes, but his latest concussion – the 10th of his career – has left the door open for Khawaja.
Waugh said he felt there were not enough options open to overlook Khawaja.
“Normally, I’d say you’d probably go past him, but with the lack of depth in that opening spot, you’ve got to think about him,” Waugh said. “He’s aged 34, we know he’s a class player; he made that 174 in the Shield match. What’s the other options?
“You’ve got Marcus Harris, who hasn’t played yet, but he is going to play these three Shield matches at the end of October, back-to-back.
“He averages 23 in Test cricket. He hasn’t really stamped himself.
“You’ve got Pucovski, who would be a walk-up starter, but once again he’s got concussion issues.
“That’s about it. Joe Burns, you’re not going to go back to him.
“So Khawaja finds himself definitely with a chance, given the lack of other guys knocking down the door.”