Usman Khawaja has said he feels completely fit and ready ahead of the Adelaide pink-ball Test but added that his selection will depend on the Australian team management’s final decision.
Usman Khawaja has delivered a positive fitness update ahead of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, stating he is fully fit after recovering from back spasms. The opener missed the second Test in Brisbane following the issue picked up during the Perth match.
Travis Head moved to the opening slot alongside Jake Weatherald, and the combination produced strong returns, including a century from Head in Perth and steady partnerships in both Tests. Despite sitting out the Gabba test, Khawaja remained part of Australia’s squad for the pink-ball Test.
After completing an intense rehabilitation block in Adelaide, the 38-year-old believes his body is ready for the demands of Test cricket.
“Obviously hope to play. I don’t really know. Obviously, it’s not my decision. The older I’ve got, the more comfortable I’ve got with things that I can control and things that I haven’t. I feel really good in terms of I’m ready to go. The rest of it is not in my control. So, yeah, we’ll see what happens,” Khawaja told the reporters.
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“I’m feeling 100%. So unless something else [happens], but I felt 100% before Perth, too. It’s just one of those things. I’ve done everything. That’s why I was training all last week. I was just doing rehab, which sucks because when you get injured, you have to do more, right,” he added.
Khawaja Confident About Form After Strong Shield Run
Usman Khawaja also expressed confidence in his current form, highlighting recent Sheffield Shield outings as proof of his adaptability. He said he remains capable of changing tempo when required and does not rely on one fixed scoring pattern.
“I’ve got gears when I want them. You’ve got 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 conscious of that. I can go out there and play more shots and I think I’ve been scoring pretty [quickly]. So sometimes the game and the situation dictates that [and] the wickets dictate that. I think I just play the game, what’s in front of me,” he concluded.
The final call will be taken after team management reviews the playing conditions.
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