Nearly 10 years to the day since making his worldwide debut in an Ashes Check on the SCG, Usman Khawaja is getting ready for his forty fifth cap in uncommon circumstances.
Key factors:
- Usman Khawaja is predicted to return to the Check staff instead of Travis Head, who examined constructive for COVID-19
- All different members of the Australian staff and assist employees have examined unfavorable
- The fourth Ashes Check begins 10 years and two days after Khawaja’s debut on the identical floor
After shedding the race with Travis Head for the quantity 5 spot within the facet for the primary three video games of the collection in opposition to England, Head’s constructive COVID end result has compelled a shake-up to the Australian XI, though Cricket Australia stated on Saturday afternoon that every one different gamers and assist employees had examined unfavorable.
Khawaja is predicted to step into the position, however T20 World Cup hero Mitch Marsh and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis have been added to the squad forward of the Sydney Check.
“If I do get a chance, it is all the time very thrilling to play Check cricket, however much more so SCG, the place my outdated house is,” stated former Sydneysider Khawaja, who debuted within the closing sport of the 2010/11 Ashes collection.
Again then, the Aussies have been down 2-1 and had already misplaced the trophy. This time round, fortunes have flipped, with Australia making an attempt to go 4-0 up after profitable the collection with a thumping win inside three days in Melbourne.
And whereas that sport was the beginning of an extended profession representing Australia, Khawaja is effectively conscious this return — his first Check since being dropped through the 2019 Ashes tour — might be short-lived.
“If I do play, it will solely be for one sport. Heady will come again subsequent sport, I perceive the scenario,” he stated.
“I do know there’s nonetheless a whole lot of cricket to come back up within the subcontinent, which I really feel I am very suited to too [and] I am trying ahead to hopefully being part of.”
Khawaja stated he was considerably out of form, having not performed a sport since Australia A clashed with England’s touring facet alongside the primary Check in early December.
After a sensational begin to the Sheffield Defend season earned him a spot within the prolonged Ashes squad, Khawaja scored simply 11 and 5 in opposition to the English Lions.
“I have not performed for possibly a month now, so it does make it a bit totally different,” he stated.
“Hopefully if I play and get on the market and bat for half an hour and get into it, I ought to discover that sync once more.
“I have been batting within the nets, however anybody will inform you it is not the identical. I’ve stayed as prepared as I can on the sideline.”