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.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
To me this is the substratum issue with Warner. He besmirched the whole team especially his captain and new chum. His part has been shrouded in mystery. And the team has carried him ever since. And how do we drop anyone else if their form slumps without the selector's being slsmmed for favouritism?
Pierro
Roar Rookie
class A pr*-k rowdy
Rohan
Roar Rookie
:stoked: Yeah, those Walsh and Ambrose guys... A walk in in park. :tennis:
Wes P
Roar Rookie
It's player power ok! Once upon a time Khawaja would be fined for commenting on selection. So he should be. The selectors name the team not vice versa. If anyone can remember poor old Wayne Phillips, the Victorian opener. He was selected to replace Geoff Marsh and was treated like a pariah through no fault of his own. His career suffered and within a few years he disappeared from 1st class ranks even. No wonder Warner's potential replacements are talking him up.
Wes P
Roar Rookie
Asides from that Hazlewood for Boland and Murphy to stay. Ditto Marsh with Green rested dropped or whatever.
Wes P
Roar Rookie
You know what? I agree on "the juice" re sandpaper. He's confident enough to nominate his retirement date. I don't think his form warrants selection and if Australia lose he won't play in the last test. I read a little Fox article and they reckon he's in. And mate they'd know because they pay to know.
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
Nice Clayton's reply, Matey.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Oh, it's you again. See ya
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
A Poplet?
matth
Roar Guru
Agreed, plus the added bonus with no tour matches is having to play back to back tours in India and then England. That's quite the adjustment to have to make.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I forgot to follow thru on his eligibility but Uranus dominates me so l can be a bit hit n myth
matth
Roar Guru
I generally agree, but it doesn't pass the pub test that all the best of players stopped 50 years ago. to offset the variables in their favour, the modern player has to deal with: - video analysis - touring significantly more countries and variable conditions, plus facing more varied attacks, so not getting familiar with their opposition - changing formats which muddies the skills required, plus little time between them to adjust - no tour games to acclimatize to overseas conditions. - DRS meaning umpires are much more willing to give LBW and the opposition can also challenge. The same goes for run outs - no benefit of the doubt there any more. - going even further back, the LBW law was changed. You had to be very plum indeed to be given before the 1950's. Add those circumstances in and it's no wonder that the players of today have poor away averages. Steve Smith is truly remarkable in that regard. He has had oppositions dissect his game for a decade, plus has to succeed in India with no warm ups then travel to England and succeed with no warm ups. What a player. All that adds up to a reluctance on my part to do too much 'equalisation' of averages, except funnily enough in Matt Hayden's time, which was truly a golden age for getting that old average moving north. For me it's Trumper and Simpson for what it's worth. However all of Khawaja, Warner and Slater are underrated by the rose coloured glasses.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
I R Redpath and R B McCosker made a fair old stab of opening back when I were a lad.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
Sorry I didn’t realise you didn’t post the next cohort. I just did a visual scan for the Diz. Fair enough
sheek
Roar Guru
The Sports Lover, Keeping in mind also Lawry was an outstanding cover fieldsman. And quite the humorist to make up for his funeral batting!
sheek
Roar Guru
Vellum, Even Trumper was a long way removed from the 1920s. He played his last test in 1912 & died too young in 1915 aged 37.
sheek
Roar Guru
Wikipetia, If you were following my explanations, then Gillespie would have appeared in the 2000s team, with players born 1975-84. Gillespie was born 1975. 2000s team: Katich (vc), Rogers, Watson, Hussey, Clarke (c), Symonds, Haddin (wk), Johnson, Gillespie, Lee, Hauritz, S.Marsh (12th). 2010s team (born 1985-94): Warner, Khawaja, Laubuschagne, Smith (vc), Head, M. Marsh, Carey (wk), Starc, Cummins (c), Lyon, Hazlewood, P.Hughes 12th! Green born 1999, would qualify for the 2020s team.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Hoping Warner goes big is like the Lasseter's Reef Saga. Ultimately fruitless.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Everyone pads their records against weaker opposition. Murali was an outstanding bowler but his record is heavily inflated by his performances against minnow nations. Personally I think Hayden was phenomenal against all countries, but significantly better performed in Australia than overseas. I’d rate him as the best Australian opener I’ve seen, and I’ve been watching closely since the early 80’s. It’s interesting to see that our best openers statistically in the last five decades (guys like Hayden, Warner and Mark Taylor) have all performed poorly in England, South Africa and NZ, i.e. in swinging conditions. Boon defied this trend but didn’t do so well in the sub-continent.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Tim Pain admitted on SEN Radio this morning that Warner "hasn't had the best 12 months". But the facts are he hasn't had the best two-and-a-half years. He's only averaged 23 from 39 of his last 40 test innings and he has failed in England his whole career. Paine and Khawaja argue that 3 x 50 opening partnerships in this series (out of 6 innings) is a good record! Since when has "50 opening partnerships" been considered a measure of success? Warner has been on the nose with the Australian public for most of his career (well before Sandpaper Gate) and should have been dropped two years ago (by which time we would now have an established alternative). The selectors and teammates are oblivious to his unpopularity. Please bring Green in to open so that we can have somebody to cheer.