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Usman Khawaja expects David Warner to hold his spot for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, labelling his opening partner as one of the greatest in Australia’s cricket history.
Warner’s spot remains in the spotlight in the lead up to the start of the potential series decider on Wednesday, after his double-failure last time out at Headingley took the veteran’s series average to just 23.5.
Complicating the matter further, Mitch Marsh scored a century while filling in for allrounder Cameron Green in Leeds, with that pair now both available and fighting to play.
One of Marsh or Green could potentially open with Khawaja at Old Trafford, leaving Warner out in the cold as Australia push to wrap up the Ashes.
But when asked on Sunday if he expected to be opening alongside Warner in Manchester, Khawaja was clear.
Usman Khawaja and David Warner. (Photo by Ryan Pierse – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“Yep,” he said. “From my point of view Dave Warner has been one of the greatest openers of all time.
“It is him and Haydos (Matt Hayden) right up there for Australia. The top two ever.
“So I will always back Davey no matter what, and the other guys will too.”
There were some early indications at training on Sunday that Warner would play, with he, Khawaja and No.3 Marnus Labuschagne the only men to face new balls in the Old Trafford nets.
Warner’s likely eventual successor Marcus Harris and wicketkeeper Alex Carey have also thrown their support behind the opener in recent days.
Warner and Khawaja share a close bond, having opened the batting together in junior cricket in Sydney before being reunited last year at the top of Australia’s order.
And Khawaja said it was easy to overlook the work the pair had done together in this year’s Ashes, including three successive half-century partnerships in tough conditions.
“It’s massive, and a thankless job,” Khawaja said.
“We go out there and got a really good start at Lord’s in heavy overhead conditions. I got out just last over before lunch but that sets up the game for us.
“Steve Smith comes out and batted in the sunshine and gets the beautiful 100.
“As an opener, sometimes you don’t always record your good days on how many runs you made. Sometimes it’s just about just grinding through those tough times.
“We’ve had three 50-run partnerships against Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.
“That is as tough as it gets in England. You have to pay some respect to that.”
Meanwhile, Khawaja
Australia opener Usman Khawaja has condemned the behaviour of Ashes cricket crowds, claiming he would not take his children to sit among foul-mouthed spectators.
Crowd behaviour has been in the spotlight throughout this year’s series, with Australia copping reams of abuse before and after the dramatic final day of the second Test at Lord’s.
The matter will return to the headlines again this week, with three Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members to face a King’s Counsel over alleged abuse of Australian players in the Lord’s long room.
Khawaja on Sunday opted not to comment on that issue, as the trio await a decision on whether they will be expelled from the MCC.
But, in the wake of Australia players and family members being sworn at and labelled cheats, the 36-year-old said he was concerned about the behaviour of fans in general.
England have pointed out in the past fortnight they copped similar treatment in Australia but Khawaja said it was irrelevant which country the abuse took place in.
Usman Khawaja confronts an MCC member in the Lord’s Long Room. (via Channel 9)
“I don’t agree with it either way. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” Khawaja, who has two young daughters, said.
“If I am coming to the cricket and watching the cricket, I wouldn’t want my kids to be around that.
“If I saw that I would 100 per cent make a complaint or just leave. Some of the stuff can be pretty poor.
“Over at Edgbaston they were calling Travis Head a c***, you know what. I can’t believe you can actually say that in a public domain anywhere.
“I know, watching a lot of sport and loving sport, that it happens around the world. It can be a little disappointing at times. We can take it too far in Australia. I’m not a big fan of it.”
Head was spotted talking to security early on day one of the Edgbaston Test while fielding on the boundary, but for the most part played along with Barmy Army chants.
Khawaja was the first Australian to react to fans amid chaotic scenes in the long room at Lord’s earlier this month, with vision clearly showing him reporting several members to security.
AAP has been told kicks were aimed at other players as the team walked up the internal stairs in the pavilion that day.
Khawaja said crowd behaviour “doesn’t bother me” after a lifetime in elite sport, but that he would continue to report comments that concerned him.
© AAP
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