Usman Khawaja with CA Chief Todd Greenberg (Source: AFP)
In what could be a relieving piece of news for the Australian cricket fans, the veteran opener Usman Khawaja has confirmed his availability for the upcoming third Ashes 2025-26 Test in Adelaide. The batter has declared himself fully fit ahead of the Adelaide clash against England.
The senior southpaw had to miss the second Test in Brisbane owing to the back spasms he sustained just during the Perth Test. In his absence, Australia promoted the middle-order batter Travis Head to open the innings, who produced a few brilliant results.
"The older I've got, the more comfortable I've got..." - Usman Khawaja
“Obviously I hope to play. I don't really know. Obviously, it's not my decision. The older I've got, the more comfortable I've got with things that I can control and things that I haven't. I feel really good when I'm ready to go. The rest of it is not in my control. So, yeah, we'll see what happens,” said Khawaja to journalists in Adelaide.
"I'm feeling 100%. So unless something else [happens], I felt 100% before Perth, too. It's just one of those things. I've done everything. That's why I was training all last week. I was just doing rehab, which sucks because when you get injured, you have to do more, right,” he added later.
Khawaja had to go through a lot of gym sessions, and net sessions pre, during and post the Gabba clash between Australia and England. Notably, he is set to turn 39 next. He also referred to his batting form in Sheffield Shield to back his comeback in the ongoing Ashes assignment against England.
“I've got gears when I want them. You've got to find a way to be consistent for a long period of time, not just over a game or two. So I've always been conscious of that. I can go out there and play more shots and I think I've been scoring pretty [quickly]. So sometimes the game and the situation dictates that [and] the wickets dictate that. I think I just play the game, what's in front of me,” he said.
Khawaja’s comeback in the opening slot also means that either Head or Jake Weatherald might have to bat down the order. Most probably, the chances are of Travis Head to get back to play on his regular number five position in the middle order.
