Jackson Barrett: What do Australian selectors do with Usman Khawaja now after shock Ashes knock?

Not for the first time, Usman Khawaja’s Test career looked over. But a shock reprieve to Australia’s team and an on-field reprieve, where he was dropped by Harry Brook on five, paved the way for an innings no one saw coming. Khawaja was dismissed for 82 after turning around Australia’s first innings in Adelaide on Wednesday. The veteran, who turns 39 on Thursday, was backed in to open the batting in the first Test at Perth. That never actually happened after a back injury he suffered following three-straight days of golf derailed Australia’s top order. Then he missed the Brisbane Test and was meant to be left out of the side to play in Adelaide. His lifeline came through long-time teammate Steve Smith. Australia’s stand-in captain through the first two Tests barely trained after arriving in Adelaide, suffering from vertigo-like symptoms including nausea and dizziness. Coach Andrew McDonald had left the door open for Khawaja to make a return in the middle order, and he trained against used balls in the lead-up to the game. And so it played out. Khawaja was in the Adelaide Oval nets when Smith was ruled out of the Test after one final conversation with McDonald and Pat Cummins and left the ground. Little more than an hour later he was at the crease, batting in Smith’s No.4 position and left in charge of arresting a wobbly start. For the first time in a summer where he has caused quite a stir, he let his bat do the talking. We haven’t seen Khawaja play like this on Australian shores since his last reprieve to the Test side in the 2021/22 Ashes. It’s his biggest score since his double century against Sri Lanka in February and his top score in Australia since he scored 90 against Pakistan in Perth in December 2023. But there’s a case to be made that even his 232 in Galle was not as important, or as fine as this innings. This one was different. Even when he was defending, Khawaja got into strong positions and played commanding strokes. His upper-cut against Josh Tongue was a Khawaja classic on a deck where he could put his faith in the bounce. He also jumped into a pull shot off Ben Stokes with the kind of authority he has been bereft of in home conditions of late. Then enter Will Jacks. Australia’s spin specialist got his dream match-up on a good wicket and milked England’s part-timer in the middle session. Jacks eventually dismissed Khawaja, but only after he took him for more than five an over. Even Stokes barely challenged until he came around the wicket with a leg-side field and cramped Khawaja, creating a series of lbw chances. How many did Khawaja need to score to retain his place for Melbourne? 50? 70? 100? And what does Josh Inglis’ 32 save his spot? He has now thrown away two chances to make a big score since returning to the team in Brisbane. No one really knows, but selectors have looked for a reason to pick Khawaja, rather than drop him, for two years now. They’d just made one tough call on him, now he’s going to force them to make another.