Australia’s Usman Khawaja has declared himself match for the third Ashes Take a look at in opposition to England subsequent week, brushing apart hypothesis about his future and saying he’ll hold enjoying so long as he’s valued by the crew.
The left-handed batter, who will flip 39 in the course of the Adelaide Take a look at which begins on Wednesday, missed the pink-ball encounter in opposition to England resulting from a again downside, and was additionally unable to open in both of the innings in Perth final month.
“I may have retired two years in the past, or at any time,” Khawaja advised reporters in Adelaide on Saturday.
“I’m at all times conscious of the longer term, I at all times have been. I’m not right here to hold on, I’m simply right here to get pleasure from my cricket.
Additionally learn | England should change mindset to salvage Ashes, says Mitchell Johnson
“So long as I’m valued I’m right here, I’m doing my job.”
In Khawaja’s absence, Travis Head and Jake Weatherald have been in high-quality kind on the high of the order.
Head scored a match-winning 123 in Perth, whereas Weatherald contributed with a strong 72-run knock within the second check.
“I’ve received to be completely trustworthy, it doesn’t actually faze me,” Khawaja mentioned on the possibilities of his return to the enjoying XI.
“The older I’ve received, the extra comfy I’ve received with issues that I can management and issues that I can not.
“And I really feel actually good. I’m able to go.
“The remainder of it’s not in my management. So we’ll see what occurs.”
Australia leads the five-match collection 2-0 and a win in Adelaide would safe the urn.
Printed on Dec 13, 2025