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On Monday, McDonald was asked directly whether Khawaja would play in Brisbane if his back injury allowed. McDonald offered no guarantee.
“It’s a long way out, a lot of information to gather between now and then,” he said. “Hopefully Usman is fit and available for selection.”
England’s Brydon Carse celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Usman Khawaja.Credit: AP
Read into that what you will – about a player who a week ago was one of the first picked.
Retirement on his own terms, rather than being tapped on the shoulder, may loom as the more palatable option for Khawaja given the age-fitness-form dilemma.
If he’s not selected in Brisbane, would Khawaja really want to remain in the squad until Sydney?
Khawaja turns 39 on day two of the Adelaide Test on December 17. Only 25 Australians have played Test cricket after their 39th birthday, and no recognised batter has done so since Bob Simpson in 1977. The last opener was Lindsay Hassett in 1953. The realities – fading eyesight and slower reflexes – are inescapable.
Even if selectors want to keep Khawaja in the side, his back may not allow it. It is the first time he’s had back spasms and he will be tested further this week.
Then there’s Khawaja’s numbers, which feel more relevant than ever.
Since returning to the Test team in 2022, Khawaja has averaged a healthy 46.58 in 41 Tests.
But since mid-June 2023, he has made one score of more than 90 in 45 Test innings. That innings, 232 in Galle against Sri Lanka, came as Australia made 6-654 with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis also reaching triple figures.
Khawaja averages 24.35 in his past 10 home Tests.
Dropping opener Jake Weatherald after scores of 0 and 23 on debut would be harsh, and it hardly resolves the longer-term issue. Weatherald’s willingness to take the game on is valued internally, while Khawaja’s struggles against high-quality pace bowling, particularly right-armers operating around the wicket and angling into him, remain.
Dropping England’s Jamie Smith in the second innings did not help Khawaja’s cause either, as whispers of his back-to-back-to-back golf rounds (54 holes) emerged.
If Khawaja had not suffered back spasms, Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg would not be fielding questions on radio about golf.
Usman Khawaja has scored more than 90 just once in his past 45 Test innings.Credit: AP
Khawaja, to be fair, has often produced great innings after rounds of golf. The perception, however, is proving harder to change – just as it was when he missed a Sheffield Shield match last season to attend the Australian Grand Prix.
Khawaja was entered to play in an Australian PGA pro-am event in Brisbane on Wednesday – the day after the scheduled end of the first Test. Khawaja officially pulled out on Monday.
“I mean obviously we don’t want him hurt, but I think you need to have a balance between having fun and being outside,” said Australian golf star Min Woo Lee.
“Hopefully that’s not the reason for [his injury] ... but good on him. We all love golf.”
Mitchell Johnson, Australia’s 2013-14 Ashes hero, was not as open to playing golf just before a Test.
“From the outside, it doesn’t look great,” Johnson wrote in his column for The West Australian. “I reckon Khawaja’s teammates who don’t spend as much time on the golf course might not be sympathetic either.
“These little moments matter in elite sport. You could reasonably argue that the preparation contributed to the back spasms, and if that’s the case, then that’s not doing your job properly for Australia.”
Mark Waugh, a commentator for Kayo Sports, told this masthead: “I’m sure he wouldn’t have played golf if he had a bad back. The players have to get out and relax.”
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McDonald added: “I don’t think you can join the dots to something around his age. I think it’s just one of those things that’s happened.”
Steve Waugh’s thinly veiled swipe at Bailey last month questioning whether he was capable of making the tough calls is a comment that will be in the back of selectors’ minds heading into the second Test.
Given the esteem in which Khawaja is held, a compromise could emerge: a farewell Test at the Gabba, batting at No.5. He averages 35.93 in nine pink-ball Tests.
But many would argue an order of Head, Weatherald, Labuschagne, Smith, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Alex Carey plus the bowlers is a stronger side. A longer break between Tests will only allow the speculation to swirl.
Khawaja already has a Fox Cricket commentary deal in place and would slide naturally into the broadcast box, given his intimate understanding of Australia’s dressing-room dynamics and plans to combat Bazball.
Queenslander Ian Healy never got the Gabba send-off he wanted when selectors ushered in Adam Gilchrist in 1999. Khawaja and selectors have a lot to think about with a 2-0 series lead one good performance away.
