{"id":483428,"date":"2025-12-14T18:26:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T19:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=483428"},"modified":"2025-12-14T22:20:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T22:20:21","slug":"whats-changed-husseys-simple-answer-to-selection-issue-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=483428","title":{"rendered":"'What's changed?' Hussey's simple answer to selection issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mike Hussey<\/a> believes Australia's call around Usman Khawaja<\/a> isn't as complex as it's been made out, stating his belief the veteran should be placed straight back in.<\/p>\n

Khawaja's spot in the side has been under intense speculation after Travis Head's success at the top.<\/p>\n

The 38-year-old was ruled out of the Gabba Test with a back issue \ufeffbut is fit for Adelaide with Josh Inglis likely to be the man who missed out if Khawaja returns. Coach Andrew McDonald has flagged it's possible Khawaja could be in the middle order<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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READ MORE:<\/strong> Indian fans riot as Messi cuts appearance short<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Hussey believes the call is straightforward. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"It's not too much of a decision for me, I'd bring him straight back in and I'd move Travis Head back down to number five," he said on Fox Cricket's BBL coverage.<\/p>\n

"I just think Usman Khawaja's basically had one innings here in Perth with back spasms. Coming into the series, Usman Khawaja was our number one guy opening the batting \u2013 we weren't sure who the other opener would be, it's been great to see Jake Weatherald do so well.<\/p>\n

\"PERTH,<\/p>\n

"What's changed after one innings?<\/p>\n

"He's recovered from his back injury now. Get him back in there at the top of the order."<\/p>\n

Hussey added Head can be just as damaging from his usual spot in the middle order.\ufeff<\/p>\n

"Opening the batting consistently at Test cricket is difficult, very difficult. I just feel like Travis Head can be more consistent in the middle order," he said.<\/p>\n

"Unfortunately for him, (Inglis) makes way.<\/p>\n

"It's a tough call \u2013 he looked pretty good up at the Gabba as well but didn't get a massive score. He was sort of the back up batter as it was."<\/p>\n

\"Khawaja\u00a0unfazed\u00a0by\u00a0selection\u00a0uncertainty\"<\/p>\n

Adam Gilchrist agreed it would be Inglis dropped with Khawaja returning, describing it as "the percentage play" for selectors.<\/p>\n

"Get Usman's experience there, go back to a more traditional opening method," he said.<\/p>\n

"Travis Head can then come into the middle order and really make some strong contributions and maybe still up the tempo if he needs to in that middle order."<\/p>\n

Gilchrist did add that Khawaja will need runs though \ufeffwith his average for this year and last not pushing past 36.<\/p>\n

The former wicketkeeper batter did defend the opener though, saying he's played a role by occupying the crease and laying the foundation.<\/p>\n

"That's not something the scoresheet can show," he said. \ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mike Hussey believes Australia's call around Usman Khawaja isn't as complex as it's been made out, stating his belief the veteran should be placed straight […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":483432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483428"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=483428"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":483436,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483428\/revisions\/483436"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/483432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=483428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=483428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=483428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}