Australia’s uncertainty over their opening pair deepened on Tuesday, December 2, after veteran batter Usman Khawaja was ruled out of the second Ashes Test. The 38-year-old, who has been Australia’s most reliable opener in recent years, failed to recover fully from the back spasms he suffered during the series opener.

Khawaja attempted a 30-minute net session on Monday but looked uncomfortable throughout, raising immediate doubts about his readiness. With the second Test set to begin in Brisbane on December 4, Australia opted to finalise their decision early, leaving them searching for their third opening combination of the series. Khawaja did not open in either innings of the first Test after spending an extended period off the field, forcing Australia into makeshift solutions.

Marnus Labuschagne partnered debutant Jake Weatherald in the first innings in Perth, while Travis Head was promoted to open in the second. Head’s aggressive knock proved crucial, as he dismantled England’s attack and guided Australia to a successful chase of 205 on a challenging surface.

Khawaja’s situation has been further complicated by scrutiny surrounding his preparation. The left-hander was spotted playing golf on three consecutive days ahead of the second Test, prompting questions about his focus and recovery. Former fast bowler Mitchell Johnson criticised the optics, suggesting that such preparation might have contributed to the injury.

“Everyone has their way of preparing and I’m not against players using golf to switch off,” Johnson wrote in The Nightly. “But you have to be professional too. From the outside it does not look great. You could reasonably argue that the preparation contributed to the back spasms, and if that is the case then that is not doing your job properly for Australia.”

Head’s standout innings in Perth has also sparked debate about whether he should be considered as a permanent Test opener. Meanwhile, Australian media reports that Beau Webster and Josh Inglis are the leading contenders to fill the vacant spot, with Head expected to remain in a flexible role in the middle order.

Australia squad for the 2nd Test:
Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.