The big question facing Usman Khawaja heading into the Ashes is not whether he can get to the finish line but if he can retire while still earning his keep.<\/p>\n
Unless he gets a string of single-figure scores in the first three Tests, it\u2019s highly unlikely the gun-shy national selection panel will pull the pin on Khawaja\u2019s career.<\/p>\n
With young gun Sam Konstas in a form slump, first Test squad member Jake Weatherald and Queensland\u2019s Matt Renshaw appear to be the only other viable options to open along with Marnus Labuschagne, if he is promoted from first drop.<\/p>\n
Victoria\u2019s Campbell Kellaway is on the way up and his state coach, former Test opener Chris Rogers, sung his praises on Thursday following his courageous display against Mitchell Starc.<\/p>\n
However, George Bailey and co are risk averse. They will only bring in a debutant or two in the form of Weatherald and back-up quick Brendan Doggett if they absolutely have no other choice.<\/p>\n
Khawaja has had one of the more unusual Test careers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He is the only player left from England\u2019s last Ashes triumph (series or match) in Australia when he made his debut in the dead rubber fifth Test at the SCG at the start of 2011.<\/p>\n
Such was the dire state of the Australian team at that low point that his encouraging first-up effort of 37 was near enough being hailed as the second coming of Bradman in some hyperbolic quarters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A prodigious talent and prolific run-scorer when he came through the junior representative pathways at NSW, the left-hander made just one half-century in his first six Tests that year and spent more than 12 months in the wilderness before he was recalled for the 2013 Ashes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But he was dropped again three matches later after making several starts but no big scores but when he had a third crack at Test cricket in 2015, he feasted on the New Zealand and West Indies attacks to peel off four centuries in as many matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At last, the wunderkind was ready to conquer the world.<\/p>\n
But over the next four years he never did take that next step into the upper echelon of the best Test batters \u2013 in 30 Tests, he registered just four centuries, an average average of 36.58 and lost his spot midway through the 2019 Ashes after the emergence of Labuschagne.<\/p>\n
Usman Khawaja. (Photo by Robert Cianflone\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
It looked like his international career was over but after an undeniable weight of runs for his adopted state Queensland at Sheffield Shield level, he replaced Marcus Harris at opener, coming into the team in a full circle moment in Sydney in an Ashes Test.<\/p>\n
Aged 35, he finally realised his worldie potential.<\/p>\n
Over the next 18 months he plundered every bowling attack in all sorts of conditions.<\/p>\n
In those 18 Tests, he piled up 1827 runs at 67.66 with eight hundreds and seven half-centuries.<\/p>\n
During that purple patch, on average it took more than 139 deliveries before his rock-like defences were brought undone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for him, the past two years have been a prolonged period of under-achievement, raising questions about whether he still deserves his place in the line-up amid a protracted farewell tour similar to the one that his good mate David Warner was allowed by the selectors in the twilight of his career.<\/p>\n
In his past 22 Tests, he\u2019s cobbled together 1339 at 33.47 with his 232 at Galle in February the only time in the six times that he has passed 50 that he\u2019s converted into triple figures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It must be noted too that two other Australians hit centuries in that innings as the tourists amassed a whopping 6-654 against an anaemic attack before declaring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019s only lasting 74.9 deliveries before each dismissal, slightly more than half of what he was averaging during his peak period.<\/p>\n
In the recent Shield rounds, he\u2019s been serviceable without being outstanding with scores of 69, 46, 0 and 87.<\/p>\n
Jake Weatherald. (Photo by Steve Bell\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The main problem at Test level for Khawaja over the past couple of seasons has been his inability to occupy the crease when confronted with high-class pace bowling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jasprit Bumrah claimed his wicket six times in five Tests while nine other seamers have dismissed him on multiple occasions. He\u2019s only been out to spinners five times.<\/p>\n
Ben Stokes stated on Wednesday that the Poms were toying with the idea of playing both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in Perth next Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It should be a fait accompli \u2013 that would mean there is no escape for Khawaja when he\u2019s got 150km\/h thunderbolts from each end on the bounciest wicket in the country.<\/p>\n
With Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson are in the mix to form their attack at Optus Stadium, the visitors are not necessarily the best attack going around in world cricket but they have the potential to do plenty of damage.<\/p>\n
Despite Wood\u2019s hamstring scare on Thursday in their warm-up match against their Lions at Lilac Hill, it appears England are going with a four-pronged pace attack in Perth with Ben Stokes to be a fifth strike option and Joe Root\u2019s off-spinners to soak up some overs.<\/p>\n
Then the caravan moves to a day-nighter at the Gabba which will also not help Khawaja\u2019s cause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Khawaja turns 39 during the third Test in Adelaide \u2013 if he\u2019s struggled in the first couple of matches and cannot find form at this batting paradise, he should be told it\u2019s time to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Usman Khawaja walks off after being dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by Cameron Spencer\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
But as Steve Waugh said last week, Bailey \u201chasn\u2019t really had the appetite to make some tough calls\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Waugh himself had to deal with constant media speculation over his place in the side before he was able to go out on his own terms in the SCG Test of 2004.<\/p>\n
It would be great if Khawaja is able to do so \u2013 he\u2019s been a unique presence in and around the Australian team for the best part of 14 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Never afraid to speak his mind about on and off-field issues, he will be an asset for Australian cricket in his retirement with his forthright views and his Pakistani heritage helping grow the South Asian population in the sport nationwide.<\/p>\n
But he has to perform better with the bat because he\u2019s surely used up all his credits with the Australian selectors by now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to be better, plain and simple. There\u2019s no excuse for where we are right now. We need to hold ourselves accountable and make the necessary changes, because this isn\u2019t acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n