Usman Khawaja is fresh off twin centuries at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but his spot for the fifth and final Test of the Ashes in Hobart is anything but secure.
Left out of the first three Tests of the series, the veteran batsmen was brought into the side for the eventually drawn Sydney Test following Travis Head's unfortunate positive COVID test.
Head has, however, been asymptomatic and will be set to return for the Hobart Test, leaving the selectors with a difficult decision to make.
Both Head and Khawaja could yet play the match, with both Marcus Harris and Cameron Green having their spots called into question.
Harris has only made 50 or more once during the series, and Khawaja has an excellent track record as an opening batsman at Test level, while Green has struggled throughout the series, but may have saved his spot with some strong bowling and a big score in the second innings of the Sydney Test.
Test captain Cummins said that while he isn't a selector, it would be difficult to drop Khawaja.
"I think I’ll preface it by saying I’m not a selector. But if someone comes out and hits twin hundreds, it’s pretty hard to go past them for the week after I think,” Cummins said after the conclusion of the drawn Test which saw Australia fall just one wicket short of victory.
“The selectors will work through that over the next few days but if someone is running hot, and got a heap of experience like Uzzie, the way he played was just fantastic.”
It's expected the selectors will make a call in the coming days ahead of the Test starting on Friday.
