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Bharat: Why Khawaja should be worried about his Ashes spot
SEN •  October 21st, 2025 12:44 pm
Once scenario that has not been considered for the Ashes is how much pressure Marnus Labuschagne's return to form should be putting on Usman Khawaja and whether it could lead to the veteran being dropped at some stage during the series.
For months the debate around Australia's batting order and opening partner5ship has centred around Labuschagne v Sam Konstas with a few other names thrown in for good measure.
After the World test Championship in June, Labuschagne was dropped from the Australian side in favour of the then-teen sensation Konstas, who put the world on notice with a formidable innings at the MCG against India last summer.
While the demotion proved just the tonic Labuschagne needed to get himself back on track, Konstas' numbers in the West Indies tour were damning. He scored just 50 runs at an average of 8.3,
Meanwhile, Labuschagne has four centuries in all formats in the past month as well as a late call-up to the OPDI side currently playing India.
Given this return to form, SEN's Bharat Sundarasan has suggested the weight of expectation to deliver should now be on Khawaja who, at 38, is likely set for his final Ashes outing.
"The make-up of the team revolves around where Steve Smith bats. If Steve Smith wants to stick at 4 then you are left with Cam Green at 3," Sundarasan said when discussing the batting order for Australia.
"Where is Marnus? he's done everything right.
"It's added scrutiny on Usman Khawaja with Marnus batting the way he is. If Ussie doesn't start the Ashes well then the pressure is all on him, not who he opens the batting with.
"I would open with Jake Weatherald. You want your best players playing in their best positions and that for Marnus is No 3.
"I would like Weatherald to play the first Test (but) If Khawaja and Marnus are opening and Ussie fails in a couple of Tests, then I want Weatherald to come in.
"We shouldn't wait on him for too much longer."
Amid so much debate around the batting order as well as the mounting injuries in the Australian camp, Sundarasan said it's a time for concern but not panic.
Captain Pat Cummins is more than likely out of the first two Tests and could miss the entire series while there remains concerns over Beau Webster (ankle) and Cam green (side).
"They're fortnight away from announcing (the squad) which tells you they don't know the make-up of the line-up. England look the more settled team.
"When George Bailey said Green is minor, I did buy it.
"At some deep level I don't think they know, like the Pat Cummins situation. Until Cummins has a bowl, we wont know how his body will react.
"It's the same with Cam Green but it's not panic stations yet but there is more scrutiny around the XI than they would like."
