Melbourne: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels Usman Khawaja can replace David Warner for another Ashes Test whether the opener is out of play due to injury.
England and Australia are currently playing the first Ashes Test. Warner did not take the field after suffering a chest injury while batting on the second day of the first Test on Friday.
“If (Warner) can’t play, I think it’s probably Khawaja who goes in and opens the batting. Although he hasn’t done that for Queensland over the years, he has made it to Australia first. Did,” Cricket.com.au was quoted as saying Ponting.
“He’s obviously in really good form, so I think that’s probably the way to go. I think he’s experienced enough, but the fact that he hasn’t done that for a while is a concern,” he said. will be the subject.”
The Australia opener suffered a brutal blow at the same spot while fielding for England’s Ben Stokes which made Warner more uncomfortable.
Ponting said, “It is a matter of concern that he is not there at all. When he bats or bats in the second innings we will have a better idea.”
“I noticed that after being hit, he came out after a break and you could see that he had a little (chest) guard on that area. I was a little worried about it because I had never seen him before. Chest guard,” he said.
Ponting continued, “Even if it’s just an injury, I think he’ll be fielding there, so there might be a little more to it than what we’re hearing.”
Coming into the game, Joe Root and David Malan staged England’s fight as both batsmen steadied the visitors’ ship towards the end of the third day of the ongoing first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, here on Friday.
At stumps, England were trailing by 220/2– 58 runs. Malan and Root have played unbeaten innings of 80 and 86 runs respectively.
England and Australia are currently playing the first Ashes Test. Warner did not take the field after suffering a chest injury while batting on the second day of the first Test on Friday.
“If (Warner) can’t play, I think it’s probably Khawaja who goes in and opens the batting. Although he hasn’t done that for Queensland over the years, he has made it to Australia first. Did,” Cricket.com.au was quoted as saying Ponting.
“He’s obviously in really good form, so I think that’s probably the way to go. I think he’s experienced enough, but the fact that he hasn’t done that for a while is a concern,” he said. will be the subject.”
The Australia opener suffered a brutal blow at the same spot while fielding for England’s Ben Stokes which made Warner more uncomfortable.
Ponting said, “It is a matter of concern that he is not there at all. When he bats or bats in the second innings we will have a better idea.”
“I noticed that after being hit, he came out after a break and you could see that he had a little (chest) guard on that area. I was a little worried about it because I had never seen him before. Chest guard,” he said.
Ponting continued, “Even if it’s just an injury, I think he’ll be fielding there, so there might be a little more to it than what we’re hearing.”
Coming into the game, Joe Root and David Malan staged England’s fight as both batsmen steadied the visitors’ ship towards the end of the third day of the ongoing first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, here on Friday.
At stumps, England were trailing by 220/2– 58 runs. Malan and Root have played unbeaten innings of 80 and 86 runs respectively.
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