Veteran's career at crossroads after Head's heroics

Travis Head's all-time Ashes knock in his first innings as a Test opener in Australia could effectively bring an end to Usman Khawaja's career.

Head destroyed hapless England with 123 from just 83 balls at Perth Stadium to propel Australia to victory in the Ashes opener in what is being hailed as one of the best innings in Test history.

But the regular No.5 only opened the batting because Khawaja was dealing with back spasms.

Khawaja's teammates, and Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg, were forced to defend Khawaja after the 38-year-old played golf in the three days leading into the Ashes opener.

Australia denied Khawaja had an injury going into the game, but the left-hander started having back issues only hours into day one.

When Khawaja was unable to open in the first innings due to being off the field for too long, Marnus Labuschagne unsuccessfully went out to bat with debutant Jake Weatherald

Weatherald was dismissed for a second-ball duck in his first Test innings, then Australia were skittled for a paltry 132 to trail England by 40 runs.

Khawaja has gone through six different opening partners since David Warner ended his Test career in January 2024.

But Australia appears to have found the ideal candidate who is ready and willing to do the job.

Head opens in white-ball cricket, and has done the job in Tests in Asia, but Australia have been reluctant to use him there at home.

"Each time I just put my name in and said, 'why not, like I do it in other formats," Head said of Australia's opening dilemma.

"Could there be an opportunity to do what Davey (Warner) had done?'

"We were looking for someone to go out there and be a bit more aggressive.

"I'm not going really aggressive at it, but I'll put my hand up if the team requires it.

"I'm more than happy to do it and keep the option there, and if they don't do it, it's fine."

Stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith was reluctant to discuss if Head could stay there permanently after the improbable win on Saturday night.

Khawaja, who will turn 39 in December and is averaging 27.44 during the past two years, was still not "moving well" after the match.

Not only did Khawaja make just two runs when he eventually batted in the first innings, at No.4, he dropped a regulation catch in slips during England's second innings that would have dismissed dangerous wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for a duck.

Working in Khawaja's favour is the early finish in Perth means there are 12 days before the second Test starts in Brisbane.

But Khawaja's injury, the lack of form, age, and Head's destructive innings as a makeshift opener mean Australia may need to make a tough call on the 85-Test batsman.

With Weatherald debuting in Perth, batting allrounder Beau Webster was dropped after impressing in seven Tests this year.

Australia legend Ricky Ponting admitted there were "positives" to keeping Head at the top and putting a different player in the middle order.

"The change for this Australian team has got to come at some stage, there's got to be a regeneration at some stage," Ponting told the Seven Network on Sunday.

"Is that in the middle of an Ashes series? Maybe not.

"But if Travis does go up to the top they can then think about bringing Beau Webster back into the middle order or blooding a young kid down at No.6."

If it is the end for Khawaja it would come almost four years after grabbing his last chance as an Australian cricketer when Head was ruled out of the 2022 SCG Test due to COVID-19.

Captain Pat Cummins is tracking well to return at the Gabba, after bowling superbly in the nets in his recovery from a back injury.

Australia could consider using four quicks, and dropping veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, for the pink-ball Test in Brisbane.

Lyon bowled just two overs in Perth, and none in the second innings after he was hit on the body while batting.