The left-hander was forced to miss the second Test in Brisbane after suffering back spasms during the opening Test in Perth. The injury prompted Australia to reshuffle their batting order, with Travis Head promoted to open alongside Jake Weatherald. The move paid immediate dividends as Head delivered solid performances at the top, including a century in Perth, while the pair added important opening stands in both Tests.
Despite his absence, Khawaja retained his place in the Australian squad for the Adelaide Test. Having completed an intensive rehabilitation programme, the 38-year-old insists he is physically ready to return. Speaking to reporters in Adelaide, Khawaja admitted that while he hopes to play, the final decision lies with the team management.
“Of course I hope to play. I don’t really know. It’s obviously not my decision. The older I am, the more comfortable I feel with things I can control and things I don’t. I feel really good in the sense that I’m ready to go. The rest is out of my control. So yeah, we’ll see what happens. I feel 100%. So unless there’s something else. [happens]but I also felt 100% in favor of Perth. It’s just one of those things. I’ve done everything. That’s why I trained all week last week. “I was just rehabbing, which sucks because when you get injured you have to do more, right,” he told reporters.
I had quite a bit of trouble: Usman Khawaja
Khawaja confirmed that he has had a heavy training load in recent days, undergoing multiple gym sessions, running exercises and extensive net drills before, during and after the Gabba Test.
“I’ve had quite a load, but it’s clear what I wanted, just get as much as I can and I’m running at 100% every time. So everything feels pretty good again,” he added.
The experienced batsman also backed his form, pointing to his recent performances in the Sheffield Shield where he has shown his ability to score at different rates. He emphasized that he still needs to adjust the gears based on match situations and conditions.
“I have gears when I want them. You have to find a way to be consistent for a long period of time, not just over a game or two. So I’ve always been aware of that. I can go out and play more shots and I think I’ve done a decent job.” [quickly]. So sometimes the game and the situation dictate that [and] the wickets dictate that. I guess I’m just playing the game, what’s in front of me,” he concluded.
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