Australian legend Ricky Ponting has supported Usman Khawaja to replace David Warner if his rib rag injury rules him out of the 2nd Ashes Test.
Warner didn’t take the field on Friday’s 3rd day at the Gabba. On Thursday, he was sprinkled with some nasty blows on Mark Wood and Ben Stokes’s chest. Although the X-ray results displayed no fracture, the cricket could miss the Adelaide Test, which starts on December 16, if his trouble continues.
Conversation to cricket.com.au, Ponting said Khawaja’s new form makes him the frontrunner for the pink ball Test if Warner is not fit to perform. Although, the former skipper acknowledged that Khawaja’s lack of opening knowledge of late could be a bit of a worry for the hosts. Ponting said:
“If (Warner) can’t play, I think it’s probably Khawaja that goes in and opens the batting. Although he hasn’t done it the last couple of years for Queensland, he has done it for Australia before.”
“He’s obviously in really good form, so I think that’s probably the way to go. I think he’s experienced enough, but the fact he hasn’t done it for a while would be a bit of a concern.”
Ponting described Khawaja might not like facing the pink ball against James Anderson on his test response. Although, the 46-year-old feels Australia don’t have much of choice in this regard, adding:
“As a batsman, if there’s one place you probably don’t want to be opening, it’s a pink ball game in Adelaide because you might happen to get put in at night.”
“We saw what England did there on the last (Ashes) tour (in 2017-18) – there was one night in that Test match when England got to bowl late with a brand new ball, and it swung all over the place. I think he can do it, and if it’s not him, I’m not sure where I’d be looking at it because you don’t want to bring anyone young in; after all, it’s such a big series.”
If David Warner’s rib injury forces him out of the Adelaide Test, Usman Khawaja stands as the man most suitable to take his place according to Test legend Ricky Ponting #Asheshttps://t.co/0gDgvGwIgs
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 10, 2021
Khawaja has secured 2-centuries and many fifties in the Shelfield Shield while batting at No. 4. Although, Australia chose Head in a toss-up between him and Travis Head for the only possible middle-order spot in the first Test. Cricketer vindicated his selection with a magnificent 152 in the initial innings.
Full highlights from his 152 #Ashes https://t.co/SVoCGWPPjU
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 10, 2021
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