Plenty left in the tank: Khawaja eyes more Ashes glory and grooming role for Konstas

Usman Khawaja won't overstay his welcome in the Australia team but is adamant he has more to contribute and sees a significant role for himself in helping nurture Sam Konstas on his return to Test cricket against West Indies.

Khawaja scored a career-best double-century earlier this year against Sri Lanka but his form returned to the spotlight with twin failures against Kagiso Rabada in the World Test Championship final. That continued a trend of lean returns against pace bowling following the challenges posed by Jasprit Bumrah last season and New Zealand's quicks earlier in 2024. However, speaking after Lord's, head coach Andrew McDonald all but confirmed that Khawaja's position was secure for the Ashes later this year.

Khawaja, who was the second-highest-scoring opener in the last WTC cycle, behind Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Australia's leading scorer overall, stands by his longer-term record and believes any downturn is more a symptom of his role in the side at a time when top-order batting has been a challenging prospect. Since the start of 2024 he averages 25.29 against pace, only a little below the global average of all openers of 27.84, compared to 65.80 against spin.

"I can't understand how I can [have a problem against seam bowling] if I can score so many runs in [Sheffield] Shield cricket or be the highest run-scorer for Australia in the WTC cycle," he said in Barbados ahead of the opening Test. "I open the batting for Australia. So I get out to seam more than I get out to anyone else. It's just part and parcel of the game.

"I wish I could face more spinners, but you don't always get that opportunity. So, I'm facing the new-ball bowlers with the new ball every single time. I went back from Sri Lanka to domestic cricket and scored a hundred against Tasmania. I pretty much faced seam the whole time there [and] against Riley Meredith, who is one of the fastest bowlers in the country."

"I understand I'm 38 years old. People will be looking for an excuse. [But] I think I've got a role to play: open the batting, starting off, and setting a good platform for Australia."

Since David Warner's retirement in early 2024, Khawaja has had five opening partners: Steven Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Konstas, Travis Head and, latterly, Marnus Labuschagne in the WTC final. Khawaja spoke of the rapport he built with Warner in their 41 innings together at the top, which included almost a sixth sense of what the other was thinking - "I knew when and where he was going to drop and run a quick single, and I was ready for it" - and hoped to start forging something similar with Konstas in the West Indies with an eye to the Ashes.

"With young Sammy coming in, it's an added role [for me]," he said. "To help Sammy along through his journey, trying to impart as much knowledge as I can. I won't be around forever. But it's very important that I can do whatever I can, obviously first and foremost, [to] have a solid partnership between us but then bit of stability at the top [and] also guide him through this journey. He's still very young, he's a 19-year-old boy, and it's quite exciting.

"There's obviously this series and then a big Ashes coming up. [You] probably want a little bit of stability at the top. It'll be tough to chop and change, and opening is a tough place. Mentally it can be very tough. Going out there against the new ball and sometimes just getting a good ball and low scores.

"I'm just looking forward to playing with Sammy, as much as on the field as helping him off the field. I've been through a lot in my life, a lot of ups and downs. There are lots of things I've seen throughout my career and most of them are not technical. More mindset things. If I can help Sammy through this journey, especially over the next couple of series, try and impart as much knowledge I can to him."

The Sydney Test at the end of the Ashes is often referenced as a stepping-off point for Khawaja but, unlike Warner, he is not outlining a precise route to retirement. After the England series, Australia won't play Tests again until Bangladesh visit for a series in the Top End in August.

"For me, I feel like I have plenty to give still," he said. "To be playing this series and the Ashes is the pinnacle. That's the one we all love winning and being involved in… after that there is a bit of a gap between that and the next Test series. We'll cross that bridge when we get there but for me it's about making sure I stay in the moment. Because if I'm not in the moment, I don't think I'm doing the right thing by myself and the team.

"I'm not the guy who's going, 'I want to play for another ten years'. I'm very attuned to whatever is best for the team [and that] is what I'm trying to do. I'm not here for myself anymore. I'm here for the team. I could have stopped playing two years ago, really. But I found that I was still contributing, still trying to be the best player for the team at that opening spot, trying to do what I can do, [and] that hasn't changed for me. When it does, you guys will surely find out."