Usman Khawaja or Travis Head; Who should open for Australia in 2nd Ashes Test vs England

Head or Khawaja, who should open for AUS [Source: AFP Photo]

Australia has revealed their squad for the second Ashes Test against England, and while the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the two injured players, have been kept on the sidelines for one more Test, under-fire batter, Usman Khawaja has been included in the team and has been given one more chance to prove his worth.

Australia has revealed their squad for the second Ashes Test against England, and while the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the two injured players, have been kept on the sidelines for one more Test, under-fire batter, Usman Khawaja has been included in the team and has been given one more chance to prove his worth.

While Khawaja was out of the field, Head single-handedly steered Australia to a one-sided win. Hence, the question arises, should Khawaja open in the Pink-Ball Test? or should the Aussies continue to persist with Khawaja.

Pros of having Khawaja open the innings

• The experience: Despite going through a slump, Khawaja is Australia’s only reliable opener, with Jake Weatherald only making his Test debut in the first game. In such a high-octane series against England, where WTC points are on the line, the team needs a bit of experience at the top, and he could do the job.
• Excellent record in Australia: The opening batter has a stellar record in Australia as the southpaw has amassed 3041 runs in 42 matches, with an average of 47.51. Despite being out of form, he still has a strong record.

Cons of having Khawaja as opener

• Decline in Test numbers since 2024: Since 2024, Khawaja’s Test numbers have dipped, and this is an alarming sign for the Aussies. Once the undisputed first-choice opener, Khawaja was Australia’s first-choice, but in the last two years, stats tell a different story.

(Khawaja in Tests since 2024)

• The numbers have been average since 2024, and Khawaja has only racked up a solitary century in 18 Tests. The numbers have gone down, and this could affect Australia in the Brisbane Test as Khawaja looked vulnerable in the first Test match, and he could meet a similar fate in the second Test.

If not Khawaja, then who should open?

If not Khawaja, then the obvious choice is Travis Head, who smacked a ton while opening in the last Test. With Weatherald at the other end, Head can come in and be that aggressive opener and fill in the loophole left by David Warner.

(Head as opener in Tests)

• 444 runs with an average of 55 at the opening spot defined Head’s adaptability nature at the top. He has been excellent as an opener, and Australia should take this bold call as the decision paid dividends in the last Test match, and it could be a great way to unsettle the English pacers up-front.

Who comes in middle-order if Head opens

If Head opens, then Labuschagne slots in at 3, Steve Smith at 4, and the number 5 spot could be occupied by Josh Inglis. He recently hammered a century against England Lions, and moreover, the batter is a phenomenal player of pace, and the English lineup will be filled with a plethora of pace bowlers.

Conclusion

Khawaja does have the experience, but Head has the X-factor to take the game away from the England side, and without any second thoughts, the team should go with him as the opener for the Pink-Ball Test in Brisbane.

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