With superstar batsman Steve Smith very unlikely to play the third Ashes Test due to concussion, veteran batsmen David Warner and Usman Khawaja must step up to ensure Australia don’t let this series slip.
Warner and Khawaja have had a shocking Ashes to date, together making 109 runs at 14 from their eight innings in this series, and both failing last night on the final day at Lord’s.
By churning out 378 runs in his three knocks in this Ashes, Smith remarkably scored 37 per cent of Australia’s total runs across those innings. His influence was particularly pivotal in the first innings of both of those Tests.
At Edgbaston he rescued Australia from 8-122, and at Lord’s he shepherded them to relative safety after they were 5-102.
This is a familiar pattern. Smith has been carrying the Australian batting away from home for the past five years. In that time he has, quite incredibly, averaged 61 with the bat in away Tests, cracking 10 tons from just 25 matches.
Despite his dominance Australia still have underperformed overseas in that period due to the lack of support Smith has received. Particularly notable has been the number of times Warner and Khawaja have gone missing on the road when their side most needed them.
Australian batsman Usman Khawaja. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Perhaps never before have Australia required that pair to lift to the extent they do right now. Smith’s absence will leave their already vulnerable batting line-up dangerously fragile.
With 29 Test tons between them – more than the entire England top six – Warner and Khawaja are accomplished veterans.
The remainder of Australia’s top seven, assuming Marnus Labuschagne replaces Smith, collectively own just four Test centuries.
While the likes of Travis Head, Matt Wade, Labuschagne and Tim Paine all could potentially prove influential with the blade in the next match, it is Warner and Khawaja who have the greatest responsibility.
Australia’s ability to halt England’s momentum over the remaining three Tests will lean heavily on whether they blunt the new ball.
As top order batsmen, Warner and Khawaja must take it upon themselves to shield their unproven middle order. If they can do that, this could be a career-defining series for either man. Khawaja was immense in the UAE last year but it was in a losing cause.
Warner’s finest moment away from home came more than five years ago when he belted 543 runs at 90 in South Africa. When he followed that up with 239 runs at 60 in the UAE later that year, it looked as though Warner might have cracked the code for foreign success.
It proved a false dawn. Since then he has had just one genuinely impressive series away from home out of eight attempts.
He struggled in the West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, and now in this series in England, while producing middling efforts in SA and last time around in the UK.
Khawaja, meanwhile, has had just two good Test series overseas from 10 attempts in his career. The left hander has been especially poor in the pace-friendly environments of England and SA, averaging just 22 across his 20 Test innings in those countries.
Smith’s likely unavailability means Australia will need Khawaja’s experience in the third Test. But his position is tenuous. If he again falters at Headingley then the axe may swing.
Warner likely will get more patience from the selectors due to his far superior Test record.
The time has come, though, that he must stride out of Smith’s shadow and prove he can lead Australia’s batting line-up in difficult circumstances overseas.
It is make or break time for both Warner and Khawaja.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Jeff I'm guessing we are both wishing carey was in there after watching paine bungle carelessly a drs which was clearly pitching outside leg , only to need it next over when leech was out in what would have been a test match and ashes win. Paine has to go
Ash
Guest
If someone rolled their ankle they would strap it up and keep playing - these are professional athletes FFS. As for a concussion - now with this new rule the team and the doctors are not legally allowed to let players back on the field if they fail a concussion test and frankly that is a very good thing. Concussion affects vision and special awareness as well as often causing increased sensitivity to light and noise, making the middle of a cricket pitch with the sun blazing in your eyes, a roaring crowd around you and a bowler sending 95mph cricket balls at you an incredibly dangerous place to be. THAT’S why there is this new substitution rule for concussion - it takes the pressure of teams and players and makes sure no one is needlessly risking their safety. Cricketers have died from balls hitting them in the head, and there are MANY athletes from many sports who suffer from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) thanks to repeated concussions sustained during their careers - any measure that is going to make players safer both in the present and future should be applauded.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Not great laba stood up. Wade is seriously lacking technique and smith would replace him for me , head isn't far behind him at times but is the better bet to make consistent runs and has demonstrated more consistency out of the two , warner finally gets his half century, it was make or break for him at least he stood up finally with some leadership. Maybe missed a beat not playing bancroft , hard to tell if he would have done much better but deserved one more start they'll need to bowl well tomorrow to get back in to the match , no doubt better
Jeff
Roar Rookie
And first innings! All very very sad.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
its fast looking like warner is the only hope outside of laba and head
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Got ridiculed for him as well, but apparently steve waugh and warnes opinions didn't matter either . Not everyone wanted Laba either guess we see how he goes today . Khwaja/Laba/Smith/Head/Carey would seem like the solid go to for me. Then Warner by experience until end of this test if he can make some runs. Bancroft probably also hard done by here although agreee his technique has been awful. Now there may be confusion between bancroft and harris for next test although apparently days 2 to 4 are easier to bat in general at Headingly so runs may get easier to come by from tmw
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Harris was never going to be the messiah. I would have gone Carey, but got ridiculed pre-Ashes for suggesting it.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Both terrible in the field but who else can you bring in. My go to are laba and carey . IF they can take balls in the grill from archer and make 50s and have kept making consistent runs locally then surely they both get a start. The top order as we know is a mess but I think they made a mistake not sticking with both warner and bancroft today even if they fail. The smith injury means we needed to keep things settled and warner has more experience and is dead keen . Harris was a panic selection for me given his lead up form was really concerning in england
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Goodness knows Khawaja is the worst fielder in this side and Warner's current confidence issues don't put him that far behind.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yes. I think they have missed a trick in losing Bancroft's fielding. Potentially 20+ runs there just from one take alone.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Opening on Day 1 in England is certainly a tough gig.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Way harris just went out I'm wishing bancroft was back out there. I actually would have given bancroft and warner one more go each primarily because I didn't rate anyone to replace them. the only way was if smith came in and we play and order reshuffle I think with laba retained. Khawaja elevated. am guessing its pretty tricky bowling after rain with cloud round right now to be fair . they just have to hang in there
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Any of them Jeff , any of them . This may well be the one innings where warner just has to lead them
Pierro
Roar Rookie
And saying that harris is gone . Predictable . Arguably better off sticking with bancroft if they stuck with warner . Harris was susceptible with english form leading in being poor. Once again australian averages not holding up . Same old same
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Harris's neck just got chopped off.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
A few of them have to make runs today I reckon.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'm not opposed to trying out Carey.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Thats not totally true we know warners worst form in england in the past at same grounds over a period of time does matter. 9 fails first innings continued here in all three series. Thats consistent really so your wrong jeff. His second innings have fallen away this series if your going strictly on comparisons of numbers which as you say is almost a moot point now . Moreover I’ve let you off lightly not dragging his 2013 stats in to it which were diabolical He’s only got three tests left in england. I’ve always maintained his form is poor in england really as I believe first innings runs are vital you can’t fail 9 times out of 10. Rogers often held him up in 2015 first innings and here he has not had that assistance from bancroft so its now being highlighted but I Knew it coming in to the series . All that said today he will be determined to make runs and I hope he does. His neck is on the line and often players have a good innings when they are about to get binned
Pierro
Roar Rookie
He's got to make runs today . He will surely be due to do so with alll thats happened an average of 4 so far . Law of averages says he should make runs
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Moreover bancroft had done marginally better than warner to date with bat and got binned and was 100 times better in the field taking vital catches.