Khawaja missed. Former Australian batsman David Warner predicts that Usman Khawaja would return to the top of the order and push Travis Head down the order in the third Test of the ongoing Ashes series.
Usman Khawaja missed the second Test owing to back spasms incurred during the series opener in Perth.
Warner, who has played alongside Khawaja and Head both, believes that Head batting down the order with his record will be a concern for the tourists. He will miss the second Test due to back spasms sustained during the series opener.
“I think Uzzy (Usman Khawaja) comes back in, slides to the top, and Trav (Travis Head) goes down. That’s probably a worse result for England, Travis Head going back down the order,” stated Khawaja, as quoted by ICC.
Warner underscored Head’s willingness to adapt to different situations and step up whenever the need arises. However, he also noted the 31-year-old’s preference to bat at lower down the order.
“At the end of the day, Travis put his hand up to bat in the situation he was in. He came out and batted in the way Travis Head does. You see plenty of interviews from Trav saying that is Uzzy’s spot, and if when the time comes, they ask him to go up the order, he wouldn’t mind doing that,” he added.
Eight of Head’s 10 Test centuries have come while batting in the middle order, and three of those have been at the Adelaide Oval, the venue for the third Test from December 17. Head averages 41.46 at No. 5 in Tests.
Australia are coming on the back of two successive wins. Head, opening the batting during the run-chase in the first match, struck a rapid 83-ball 123-run knock but it was Starc who won the Player of the Match ingaward. He has been the standout performer during the series so far, having picked 18 wickets in four innings while averaging just 14.
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