Advertisement
Advertisement
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has addressed the uncertainty around Usman Khawaja batting position upon his return for the third Ashes Test against England in Adelaide.
Australia are 2-0 ahead in the series, with the third Test set to commence on December 17 in Adelaide.
McDonald answered questions about Australia’s batting order, with Usman Khan returning after being ruled out of the second Test due to injury.
In Khawaja’s absence, Jake Weatherald and Travis Head opened the batting for Australia.
The 38-year-old was battling discomfort throughout the series opener in Perth and was sidelined with a back injury.
“It worked at this point in time. Pink-ball Test at the Gabba, we felt like that combination was right for those conditions and the opposition,” McDonald said about Australia’s current opening pair.
“We will always ask ourselves the question that the selection table as we move in. At our strategy meetings, we’ll continue to ask questions on what the best line-up is for that point in time. And we’re taking this Test by Test,” he maintained.
The head coach emphasized a flexible batting order, noting that all of their batters can play any position, regardless of their number.
“The assumption is that Uzzie can only open as well. So I think that he does have the flexibility. And we like to think that all our batters have the flexibility to be able to perform anywhere in that order,” McDonald explained.
“So we’ve got a collective sort of group of batters there that, as a series wears on, the opposition may create some different challenges for us. We’re open to what it will look like for us moving forward,” he concluded while expressing confidence.
Nonetheless, Australia is likely to name a squad for the third Test with skipper Pat Cummins also returning to the fold after an injury.
