This interesting return to form for Usman Khawaja raises questions of his place in the Australian cricket lineup for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord’s. And while his two centuries in Sri Lanka have set the Australian camp talking, more questions are still to be discussed with the selection issues that his comeback has led the team management into before this highly anticipated final.
In the first Test of Australia’s tour to Sri Lanka, Khawaja delivered a career-defining innings as he scored a sensational 232 runs in Galle. This achievement was not only enough to put Australia in a commanding position but also made Khawaja the first Australian to score a double century in Sri Lanka. The innings stood out for its technical brilliance, patience, and composure under challenge conditions. Given Sri Lanka’s reputation for spin-friendly pitches, Khawaja’s ability to combat the turning ball really highlighted his adaptability and skill in subcontinental conditions.
His return to form is especially important given the current selection dilemma within the Australian team. For most of his career, Khawaja has been coming and going, but his consistency recently has provided him with a wonderful opportunity to stake his claim to a position at the top order. As the WTC Final gets closer, demands are rising that Khawaja should continue playing in the XI as he performed in the past few months, and his efforts were very effective for Australia reaching the final stage.
Khawaja has played a significant role in Australia’s success during the WTC cycle. He has been a stabilizing force at the top of the order and has built solid foundations for the middle and lower order. He has consistently contributed with the bat, including several match-saving and match-winning knocks. His ability to anchor the innings has given Australia the platform to score big totals, making him a key player in Australia’s quest to lift the WTC trophy.
However, with the announced selection decisions for the WTC Final, Khawaja’s XI spot is far from confirmed. Australia has plenty of batting talent, and there are a number of factors for the team management to take into account: how well they balance their teams, the weather at Lord’s, and how the other openers have gone. Even though he went so well in these matches, Khawaja will be battling it out against other players who had also shown their class on the international stage.
Given his recent form, Khawaja’s case for inclusion in the WTC Final squad is strong, but ultimately, it will be up to the selectors to make a final call on how to structure the lineup for what will be one of the biggest Test matches of the year. They will be making their decision knowing that, with a player like Khawaja, they have somebody who will provide a critical anchor at the top of the order, and also, because he is a batsman who can make big runs in trying conditions.
As the WTC Final approaches, all attention will be trained on Australia’s selectors and the tricky task of finalizing their playing XI. With Usman Khawaja having come into stellar form, one can expect him to remain a major talking point in what will be an integral match for Australia in its ambitions for Test cricket.
For more news updates and videos, follow 12B Sports India Youtube .