OPINION | Usman Khawaja’s selection for the fifth Test ahead of Marcus Harris is a short-term move for Australia – and the right one. If I was a selector, I would have made the same call, but I do have concerns, writes former captain Mark Taylor
Usman Khawaja’s selection for the fifth Test ahead of Marcus Harris is a short-term move for Australia – and the right one. If I was a selector, I would have made the same call, but I do have concerns., he has not appeared sound enough to demand re-selection over a player who scored a century in each innings.Getty Images
My form was terrible in the 1992-93 series against the West Indies, leading to my dropping for the Perth Test. Justin Langer, coming off a gutsy 20 and 54 on debut in Adelaide, opened in my place with David Boon, and I returned in our next game in New Zealand. As disappointed as I was not to play, it eased upon seeing Curtly Ambrose take 7-1 on a fiery WACA pitch.
If he was to play here and fail twice then there would be even more pressure on selectors to make a call on his career when they pick the squad for Pakistan.The juggling act for selectors is to balance the needs of the team now and for the medium-term future, while also rewarding performance.On form, Khawaja must play – but having two 35-year-olds opening the batting is a worry.
Harris should take a leaf out of David Boon’s book. Boon was not a great fielder when I came into the Australian team, but he worked tirelessly with Bob Simpson, Ian Healy and the Waugh twins and in time he became a top-line catcher at bat pad. Just look at his take for Shane Warne’s hat-trick. If Harris could catch like Mark Waugh, he would still be in the team.
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