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Whateley: Khawaja deserves Gabba farewell... but not as a player
SEN • November 24th, 2025 6:00 pm
Usman Khawaja’s international Test career has been exceptional, however as expressed by Gerard Whateley, the questions surrounding his career have answered themselves.
Australia’s first Test triumph over England in Perth was littered with issues surrounding the opener.
Nursing a back injury, Khawaja spent too long off the field during England’s first innings, ruling him ineligible to open and forcing him to bat at four, from which he could only make two runs off six balls.
A dropped catch during England’s second innings once again saw him off the field with injury, subsequently removing him from Australia’s batting order for the second innings – resulting in Travis Head’s incredible opening spell.
Australia’s ever-reliable opener, the 38-year-old anchored the nation’s top order for several years, but as his reliability continues to fade, Whateley believes it may be time to move on.
“Australia now has rich choices,” he told SEN Mornings.
“(Matt) Renshaw has just made his third century of the Shield season, Head has done that (on Day 2), and he looked like the perfect running mate for Jake Weatherald.
“With respect to Usman Khawaja, that answered itself – for what he wasn’t able to do with the bat, and he missed those two catches really tellingly at first slip, because his back was buggered.
“There’s no judgement in any of that, but I am amazed by some of the commentary that says, ‘we will give him a farewell Test match’. Put him in the back of a ute, drive him around a full Gabba, and salute him!
“Magnificent career, particularly the renaissance period, but don’t play him! That’s a crazy idea! I just think these questions absolutely answered themselves.
“I’d be really disappointed if Head doesn’t open for the remainder of the series, but if they take that strategic choice, they should put Renshaw in, because he has now banged the door down with three Shield centuries and one against the pink ball at the Gabba.
“Truthfully, I just think that has answered itself, and if you ignore the answer, that will be a head scratcher.”
While Renshaw’s stellar Shield form certainly holds him in good stead for an Ashes call-up, Whateley believes it would be silly to move Head out of the top order alongside Weatherald, instead preferring batting reinforcements for the upcoming pink ball Test.
“To be clear, I would open with Head, and I would bring (Josh) Inglis in,” he said.
“You don’t need a second all-rounder for a pink ball Test in Brisbane. You add to the batting artillery, which was thin in the first innings.
“I do think the dynamic of Head and Weatherald together, and the insurance of (Marnus) Labuschagne and (Steve) Smith, two dashers and two occupiers, I love that blend for the rest of this series.”
A 14-year Test career, over 6000 runs at a near half century average, Khawaja’s service to Australia deserves to be celebrated, however, Whateley argues that his time has been served at Test level.
“I think we salute Khawaja, who was the right man for the right time,” Whateley continued.
“He guided Australia through a rickety period at the top of the order. He had good success; we’re in Bob Simpson territory with him. It would be a miracle if Khawaja had played a significant role with the bat, and now there are better alternatives.
“With the greatest of respects, we salute him and his service was so needed, but his period of service is at an end.”
