Wisden Almanack editor: Australia should stick with Head as opener and 'ease Khawaja out of his Test career'

On day one of the first Ashes Test, Khawaja was unable to open for Australia after he left the field during England’s first-innings collapse to treat a back spasm, which required him to complete a mandatory cool-down period before coming in at No.4. It was only the fifth time he had batted outside the top three in his 153 Test innings. His stay was brief, as England pacer Brydon Carse removed him for two off six balls, caught by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

During their 205-run fourth-innings chase, Australia again altered their opening combination, with Khawaja once more not taking his usual opening spot. Instead, debutant Jake Weatherald partnered with Travis Head, unlike in the first innings when Weatherald opened with Marnus Labuschagne.

Also read: Head's brilliance, and third-umpire confusion: Six talking points from the Perth Ashes Test

The promotion of Head to the top of the order paid rich dividends for Australia, as the dashing southpaw smashed a 69-ball century – the joint-third-fastest for Australia – to ease the chase for the hosts. He eventually made 123 off 83 balls, hitting 16 fours and four sixes, powering Australia over the line in just 28.2 overs with eight wickets in hand. It was the first time a team had chased a 200-plus target in Test cricket over a run-a-ball.

Lawrence Booth: I would keep Head as opener and leave Khawaja out

Booth believes Australia should persist with Head as opener for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. He argues that Khawaja is past his prime and that the back spasm presents a natural point to ease him into retirement.

"I would keep Head as opener; I'd leave Khawaja out. I'd use the back spasm thing as a way to effectively ease him out of his Test career here," Booth said on Wisden's Ashes Daily podcast.

"Khawaja’s back spasm not only allowed Head to go in first, so it was quite a fortuitous injury in a way, but it may get Australia out of a tricky decision that they have to make on Khawaja, which is, 'Is he past it?' Head walks in and scores a hundred off 69 balls in Khawaja’s position, and you are thinking, 'Well, why would we change that for Brisbane?'

"When Head walked out, my only thinking about it from an English perspective was: if they get Head early, Australia has wasted Head’s ability against the older ball in the middle order. They've lost their great counter-attacking threat later on. But in fact, they worked it out perfectly.

"So, if I were Australia and did the thing that England least want them to do, I would keep Head as opener, I'd leave Khawaja out. I'd use the back spasm thing as a way to effectively ease him out of his Test career here. England would like to see Khawaja there again, but I just can't see it.

"As you say, it would allow Webster to come in and strengthen the bowling, and Cummins is coming back, probably – don't forget – and it's the pink ball. There are all sorts of reasons. England had to win at Perth, and all the things I've just mentioned are more factors to increase their pain."

After his fireworks in the fourth innings, should Australia consider opening the batting with Travis Head instead of Usman Khawaja for the rest of the series? 🇦🇺

🤝 https://t.co/0ZcgfqOkwC#Ashes pic.twitter.com/LYCjmiFnpq

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 22, 2025

Since his twin hundreds in Sydney in the 2021–22 Ashes on his comeback after nearly three years, Khawaja has scored 3,168 runs at 46.58. Only Joe Root, with 4,020 runs at 53.60, has more in this period. But over his last 28 innings, Khawaja’s form has fallen away: he has managed 777 runs at 29.88, including a 232 against Sri Lanka in January. Aside from that knock, he has produced only two fifties.

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