# Cricket-Recalled Khawaja to battle Head for Ashes spot Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-11-17 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Usman Khawaja recalled to Australia's Ashes squad Meta Description: Khawaja returns for the Ashes to battle Head for test spot in Australia's squad. Exciting cricket ahead as selectors face tough decisions. URL: https://financedigest.com/cricket-recalled-khawaja-to-battle-head-for-ashes-spothtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-11-17t040436z2lynxmpehag00hrtroptp4cricket-ashes-preview-1736837278986-compressed.jpg) By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Batsman Usman Khawaja has been recalled to Australia’s test squad for the Ashes and will duel with Travis Head for the middle order spot vacated by Matthew Wade. Khawaja, who has played 44 tests, had been ignored by selectors since being dropped during the 2019 Ashes but the Queensland captain has made a strong case with back-to-back centuries in the Sheffield Shield last month. Head played the last of his 19 tests against India in Melbourne’s [Boxing Day](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-retailers-see-40-jump-in-boxing-day-shoppers-springboard.html "UK retailers see 40% jump in Boxing Day shoppers -Springboard") clash before being dumped mid-series. The South [Australia skipper had a brilliant start in the Shield season with a century and a double-century in consecutive innings but the runs](https://www.financedigest.com/organic-expansion-to-run-through-the-australia-new-zealand-herbal-supplements-market.html "Organic Expansion To Run Through The Australia New Zealand Herbal Supplements Market") have dried up in recent matches. Selector George Bailey said one of the pair was a slight frontrunner but declined to name him. We’re leaning towards one of them, but the whole purpose of [naming a squad is to have a squad there,” he told reporters](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-com-named-a-market-leader-in-research-in-actions-partner-management-automation-report-and-in-g2-winter-reports.html "impact.com Named a Market Leader in Research in Action’s Partner Management Automation Report and in G2 Winter Reports") on Wednesday. That could mean the pair are set for a shoot-out in the squad’s three-day warmup match in Brisbane from Dec. 1. There were no major surprises in Australia’s 15-man squad which covers only the Dec. 8 opener in Brisbane and the second [pink ball](https://www.financedigest.com/cricket-england-look-to-crash-australias-pink-ball-party.html "Cricket-England look to crash Australia’s pink ball party") test in Adelaide. Mitchell Marsh was unable to dislodge incumbent all-rounder Cameron Green despite T20 [World Cup](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-englands-houghton-will-keep-knocking-the-door-for-the-world-cup.html "Soccer-England’s Houghton will keep ‘knocking the door’ for the World Cup") heroics. Uncapped Michael Neser and two-test paceman Jhye Richardson are the back-up quicks to [Australia’s first-choice trio of Pat Cummins](https://www.financedigest.com/cricket-england-skittled-for-147-as-australia-captain-cummins-shines.html "Cricket-England skittled for 147 as Australia captain Cummins shines"), Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Uncapped legspinner Mitchell Swepson has been included as the reserve slow bowler behind incumbent offspinner Nathan Lyon. Tim [Paine’s Australia](https://www.financedigest.com/cricket-former-australia-captain-paine-retires-from-first-class-cricket.html "Cricket-Former Australia captain Paine retires from first-class cricket") were humbled 2-1 by India during the last home summer, triggering criticism of selectors for sticking with the same attack throughout. Bailey said he wanted to encourage a “squad mentality” but was cagey about whether selectors planned to rest and rotate bowlers through the five-test series. Marcus Harris will open the batting with David Warner but there was no place in the squad for Will Pucovski, who has [struggled with concussion symptoms after being hit](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-dollar-struggles-pound-hits-one-year-high.html "U.S. dollar struggles, pound hits one-year high") by a ball at training. Bailey all but ruled out Pucovski playing any part in the series. “It’s probably unlikely, I reckon,” said Bailey. I’d just love to see him [playing a lot of cricket and really getting some confidence that he can put together a string of games.”](https://www.financedigest.com/youre-a-woman-harry-brits-back-game-of-thrones-maisie-williams-to-play-potter.html "You’re a woman, Harry! Brits back Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams to play Potter") Skipper Paine has played no cricket since April and is [coming back](https://www.financedigest.com/twitter-asks-some-laid-off-workers-to-come-back-bloomberg-reports.html "Twitter asks some laid off workers to come back, Bloomberg reports") after surgery on a bulging disc in his neck but Bailey confirmed the wicketkeeper would be fit for the Gabba. Squad: Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Steve Smith, David Warner. (Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Muralikumar Anantharaman) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---