Juan J. Monroe 
sport, local-cricket, Usman Khawaja, Cricket, Australia, Ashes, Travis Head
There is a job that most Aussies think they could have and be successful at. A national cricket coach. But at the moment, it looks like it would be a tough task given the national team’s almost sudden strong depth. There are a few questions to consider ahead of the historic Hobart Ashes game at Blundstone Arena, with arguments you can see from both sides. Many of them revolve around Usman Khawaja. While saying he’s utterly ‘undroppable’ after his consecutive centuries in Sydney, and that Marcus Harris has had more than enough chances at the top of the order, has strength, there’s another way to see things. Moving Khawaja at the top of the command to partner Warner would be a short-term option, given that they are both 35 years old. Although the national cricket team is not a development team, one eye must be kept in the future. You wouldn’t potentially want to back into a corner and have to look at two new openers in a short amount of time if Khawaja and Warner called him in quick succession. Although Harris has been frustrated with his inability to convert his departures into something more substantial, there is an argument to keep him. But Khawaja’s case is going from strength to strength with a few tours of the subcontinent on the horizon, conditions where you just know he’ll thrive. Even though he’s missed in Hobart, you can see that shift taking place in Pakistan using the ‘horse for lessons’ mentality that saw Scott Boland handed a Baggy Green. There are other options, of course. While unfortunate, Travis Head may not be the automatic inclusion many believe he is or selectors could consider simply picking the top six batsmen and returning in four front row bowlers with the pink ball. That, of course, would be tough on the versatile Cameron Green. Again, the national team is not a development team, but Green is such a key figure in the future of Australian cricket that it is almost wrong not to play him. His second set shot in Sydney showed just how valuable he can be at number six, although the consistency isn’t there, with his bowling at the moment the strongest of his skills. Then there’s what the emergence of Boland created, given the presence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser. Having such depth has been one of the many positives of this summer. But despite those highs, you don’t envy those, including Tasmania’s George Bailey, who are making the calls right now.
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There is a job that most Aussies think they could have and be successful at.
A national cricket manager.
But at the moment, it looks like it would be a tough task given the national team’s almost sudden strong depth.
There are a few questions to consider ahead of the historic Hobart Ashes game at Blundstone Arena, with arguments you can see from both sides.
Many of them revolve around Usman Khawaja.
While saying he’s utterly ‘undroppable’ after his consecutive centuries in Sydney, and that Marcus Harris has had more than enough chances at the top of the order, has strength, there’s another way to see things.
Moving Khawaja to the top of the command to partner with Warner would be a short-term option, given that they are both 35 years old.
Although the national cricket team is not a development team, one eye must be kept in the future.
You wouldn’t potentially want to back into a corner and have to look at two new openers in a short amount of time if Khawaja and Warner called him in quick succession.
Although Harris has been frustrated with his inability to convert his departures into something more substantial, there is an argument to keep him.
But Khawaja’s case is going from strength to strength with a few tours of the subcontinent on the horizon, conditions where you just know he’ll thrive.
Even though he’s missed in Hobart, you can see that shift taking place in Pakistan using the ‘horse for lessons’ mentality that saw Scott Boland handed a Baggy Green.
There are other options, of course.
While unfortunate, Travis Head may not be the automatic inclusion many believe he is or selectors could consider simply picking the top six batsmen and returning in four front row bowlers with the pink ball.
That, of course, would be tough on the versatile Cameron Green.
Again, the national team is not a development team, but Green is such a key figure in the future of Australian cricket that it is almost wrong not to play him.
His second set shot in Sydney showed just how valuable he can be at number six, although the consistency isn’t there, with his bowling at the moment the strongest of his skills.
Then there’s what the emergence of Boland created, given the presence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser.
Having such depth has been one of the many positives of this summer.
But despite those highs, you don’t envy those, including Tasmania’s George Bailey, who are making the calls right now.
