Australia has announced their lineup for the second Ashes Test against England, and although the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the two injured players, have been kept off the field for another Test, the under attack batter, Usman Khawaja has been picked in the squad and given one more opportunity to justify his selection.

Australia has announced their lineup for the second Ashes Test against England, and although the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the two injured players, have been kept off the field for another Test, the under attack batter, Usman Khawaja has been picked in the squad and given one more opportunity to justify his selection.

While Khawaja was not playing, Head’s individual effort resulted in a huge win for Australia. Therefore, the question is raised, should Khawaja be the one to open the innings in the Pink-Ball Test or should he still be kept in the team by the Australians?

Benefits of letting Khawaja open the innings

Experience: Even if he is going through a rough patch, Khawaja is still the most dependable opener that Australia has, particularly with Jake Weatherald making his Test debut in the first game. In such a thrilling series against England where WTC points are at stake, the team will surely need some experience at the top and he could take care of that.

Great batting record in Australia: The left-handed opening batter has a very good record in Australia as he has scored 3041 runs in 42 matches with an average of 47.51. Even though he is out of form, his record still remains very good.

Cons of having Khawaja as opener

Decline in Test numbers since 2024: Starting from 2024, Khawaja’s Test figures have dropped considerably, and that is nothing less than a red flag for the Aussies. The once-unquestioned opener has been replaced by other players through numbers and times, Khawaja was Australia’s first openers, but in the last two years, statistics tell a different story.

If not Khawaja, then who should open?

If not Khawaja, then the most likely candidate is obviously Travis Head, who scored a century while opening in the last Test. With Weatherald at the other end, Head can take the position of the aggressive opener and fill the gap created by the retirement of David Warner, and he can be that man

Head’s records as an opener

Head’s performance of 444 runs scored with an average of 55 at the opening spot reflected his adaptability at the top and made the team’s opener a contributor. He has certainly been a successful opener, and Australia should go for this courageous decision since it proved fruitful in the last Test match, and it could also be a good way for the English pacers to get uncomfortable right at the start.

What happens in middle order if Head opens?

If Head is the opener, then Labuschagne comes in at 3, Steve Smith at 4, and the 5 spot could be secured by Josh Inglis. He recently scored a hundred against England Lions, and besides this, the batter is a terrific player of pace. Also, the English bowling line-up will consist of a lot of fast bowlers.

Final verdict

Khawaja brings along the experience, but Head is the one who possesses the X-factor that can turn the game in England’s disfavor, and without any doubt, the team should pick him as the opener for the Pink-Ball Test in Brisbane.