Usman Khawaja seems to be really impressed with his Queensland teammate, Matt Renshaw. He was able to put up a good show against India in the ODI series, as Khawaja tells his opinion on the same. He also backed Renshaw to open with him for the Ashes if he gets selected to the team.
With Khawaja and Matt Renshaw opening for the team, he also
about the other batsmen and their spots in the team. He also praised Renshaw by saying, “You feel like he is one guy that really belongs at the next level.” With Australia yet to announce its squad for the Ashes, fans await to see which players will be able to make it to the same.
1. First Position: Usman Khawaja
With Usman Khawaja coming to open for the team, he will be able to give them a great start. He has held the experience of opening for the team since 2016, and even did it in their recent Test matches. As the Ashes come closer, Khawaja is keen to improve his form as he is doing well for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.
Usman Khawaja at 1st Position:
- Innings: 33
- Not Out: 5
- Runs: 1540
- Average: 55.00
- Strike Rate: 49.13
- 100s: 4
- 50s: 6
Usman Khawaja’s record as an opening batsman for the Australian team has been favourable. He is able to trouble the bowlers in the initial phase of the game and even allows the other batsmen to settle. In the Ashes, he has scored 4 centuries and 6 half-centuries, showcasing how he loves to perform against England.
2. Second Position: Matt Renshaw
According to Usman Khawaja, opening with Matt Renshaw will be a great option. He has backed his Queensland teammate for the Ashes to open with him. As they also share a great synergy together, the Australian team will also benefit from having him open with Renshaw.
Matt Renshaw at Opening Position:
- Innings: 11
- Not Out: 1
- Runs: 458
- Average: 45.80
- Strike Rate: 47.02
- 100s: 1
- 50s: 2
He has shown great performances while opening for the team in the international games. Moreover, with his performances in the series against India, it is clear that Renshaw is ready for the next big challenge, if he gets an opportunity. The last time he opened for the Australian team in the Test format was back in 2018. While his numbers at second position may not be good, he has done well as number one.
3. Third Position: Marnus Labuschagne
For the third spot, Australia will have Marnus Labuschagne, who has amazed them with his performances. Even after being excluded from the team, his dominant form in the domestic tournaments has helped him to stitch a comeback to the limited-overs format. But Marnus has his eyes set on The Ashes.
Marnus Labuschagne at 3rd Position:
- Innings: 89
- Not Out: 8
- Runs: 3956
- Average: 48.83
- Strike Rate: 52.08
- 100s: 11
- 50s: 18
All of his centuries scored in the Test format have come at the number three spot. Moving him up and down from this place would be challenging for the Aussies, as they might miss out on some potential big knocks. He has also registered some tons in the Sheffield Shield, playing for Queensland.
4. Fourth Position: Steven Smith
Australia’s finest Test batsman, as of now, Steven Smith, will be a part of the team. With Tests being his favourite format, he loves to play when going against England in the Ashes. And this time, things will favour Smith even more as he will be taking the home ground advantage throughout the series.
Steven Smith at 4th Position:
- Innings: 125
- Not Out: 14
- Runs: 6666
- Average: 60.05
- Strike Rate: 53.28
- 100s: 23
- 50s: 27
Having scored more than 50 runs in 50 innings at this spot, Smith has proven himself to be the best batsman at this place for the team. His class and temperament have troubled England in several series, especially in 2019, when Smith ended up as the top run scorer of the series.
5. Fifth Position: Travis Head
At the fifth spot, Usman Khawaja supports Travis Head, who has the capability to attack the bowlers even in the Test format. While his form has not been great this year, being backed by the top order could help him perform well in the Ashes.
Travis Head at 5th Position:
- Innings: 73
- Not Out: 5
- Runs: 2840
- Average: 41.76
- Strike Rate: 71.00
- 100s: 8
- 50s: 12
With his strike rate standing at 71, it is much higher than the other batsmen who will be batting above him. Having Travis Head to boost the team’s scoring rate will also lessen the pressure on the batsmen who are at the other end of the crease.