‘Perfect way to finish his career’: Touchy selection call splits greats… and star played ‘out of position’

Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan believes selectors must retain veteran Usman Khawaja in the Australian Test team, claiming a return to the middle order “might be the perfect way for him to see out his career”.

But former leg-spinner and fellow Fox Cricket analyst Kerry O’Keeffe believes Khawaja is the logical exclusion for the Boxing Day Test if Steve Smith is fit to return.

Khawaja on Wednesday hit a defiant 82 after being thrown a lifeline for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide after Steve Smith was late withdrawal from the Aussie XI due to illness.

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Smith’s absence gave an unexpected chance for Khawaja, who turned 39 on Thursday and was overlooked as opener in favour of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald, with many fearing it would spell the end of his career.

But Khawaja, who missed the second Test in Brisbane after suffering back spasms in Perth, grabbed his chance in a stoic knock at No.4 after being handed a reprieve when dropped on five. He brought up his 28th Test half-century to big cheers from the Adelaide crowd.

Speaking on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage, legendary wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist said Khawaja played with a “fluency and positive approach” after being handed a “surprise gift”. Eight-time World Cup-winner Alyssa Healy said Khawaja “took his time as always then actually threw a few punches back at England”.

Former star Aussie batter Mark Waugh said he was impressed by Khawaja’s “aggressive” intent to score against England.

Khawaja lights up Poms at Adelaide Oval | 03:19

“He’d be disappointed to get out when he did and to get out in that way, but it makes it difficult for the selectors moving forward,” Waugh said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.

“There’s a lot of players to squeeze into that top order now and Usman Khawaja has shown he can bat anywhere.

“I see him as an opener No.1, but (as) a middle-order player, he can do the job if he gets it again.”

Vaughan said he liked the prospect of Khawaja returning to Australia’s middle order.

“When you go at the top of the order, you’re facing the bowlers when they’re at their freshest,” Vaughan said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.

“The last couple of years against pace, he’s had a little bit of vulnerability. Batting in the middle might be the perfect way for him to see out his career because you’d hope the bowlers will be coming out for their second, third or fourth spell. And if the spinners are on, there’s not many better players of spin than Usman Khawaja.

“He’s in the team now, it’s who else that misses out. Is it (Josh) Inglis? Is it Cameron Green? When you get in at 2-82 and you get your team out of a real tricky position, surely he’ll be walking out at the MCG.”

Usman Khawaja of Australia. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

But O’Keeffe said he sensed the Australian selectors’ preference was to politely move on from Khawaja, despite his impressive first-innings knock.

“I think it was ‘next man up’ syndrome. Smith out, Khawaja in,” O’Keeffe said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.

“For Melbourne, if Smith’s OK, it’ll be Khawaja out and Smith back in. I think it’s as simple as that.

“I know he got 80-odd and Inglis at seven hasn’t really played the ‘pick me’ innings, but I think Usman was the reserve batter and he’ll remain that if Smith’s fit.

“But he was terrific (on Wednesday) again. He was in-sync with the pitch from the moment he arrived, he said: ‘This is my deck, this is SCG, this is my backyard, I’m your daddy today England.’ And he was.”

Green, batting at No.5, was dismissed for a second-ball duck on Wednesday, which followed scores of 24 (at No.6) in Perth and 45 (at No.5) in Brisbane.

O’Keefe said Aussie selections should help Green “find his right spot”, which he believes is No.6.

“I don’t think he is a three, I think he is too tall,” O’Keeffe said. “Twenty-eight batters in Test cricket have scored 5000 runs at an average of over 50 (and) only four have been over six foot: Wally Hammond, Greg Chappell, Matthew Hayden and Joe Root.

Carey emotional ton + praises Khawaja | 11:28

“It’s not an advantage to bat early and be over six foot. And Cameron Green, at six-foot-five, is fighting the tag ‘generational talent’.

“I think he is an all-rounder who can bowl 12 to 15 overs a day and bat six. They have tried him virtually everywhere up the order, I think he is best suited at six. He can relax a bit. He went too hard at that second ball (on Wednesday).

“I just think he is just batting out of position.”