Warner: Head at No. 5 'a worse result' for England

David Warner has backed his former opening partner Usman Khawaja to return to the top of the order for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, believing that having Travis Head at No. 5 is the option that can give England the most problems.

If Khawaja is passed fit following his back spasms, Australia's selectors face a huge call ahead of the match where the home side could secure the Ashes. Since Khawaja was unable to open in Perth, Head and Jake Weatherald, the latter in his first Test series, have produced two impactful partnerships.

Opinions are divided over the best way for Australia to go, and coach Andrew McDonald suggested that using Khawaja in the middle order could be an option. But Warner is of the view they should revert to their original plan.

"I think Uzzy comes back in, slides to the top, and Trav goes down," Warner told reporters ahead of captaining Sydney Thunder in the BBL "That's probably a worse result for England, Travis Head going back down the order."

Head averages 41.46 at No. 5, where he has made eight of his ten Test centuries including three on his home ground at Adelaide Oval. Warner added that Head opening could remain an option when Khawaja retires, although he said there was no guarantee it would work in the longer run.

"At the end of the day, Travis put his hand up to bat in the situation he was in," Warner said. "He came out and batted in the way Travis Head does. You see plenty of interviews from Trav saying that is Uzzy's spot, and if when the time comes they ask him to go up the order, he wouldn't mind to do that.

"We didn't have that aggressor down in the middle order [in previous years]. Australia has that now as well, and moving forward with whatever Uzzy decides to do, if he hangs them up, they can look that way.

"But then it's on all of us to understand that potentially might not work and Travis will have to go back down the order. And then they are going to have to look for another replacement. The selectors have a headache."

Warner endorsed Queensland's Matt Renshaw as the long-term option to open when Khawaja steps away.

"We've got a lot of young [opening] talent there at the moment that's coming through," he said. "But what I will say to George Bailey and the selectors is to show faith in their 31-year-old, Jake Weatherald. I think experience is key as well.

"So credit to them if they've picked him. But moving forward, Renshaw could be one. I think he'll slide straight back in there. He's had a taste of Test cricket."

Australia have not had a settled opening combination since Warner retired in early 2024. Prior to Khawaja's injury, he had gone in with five different opening partners across 15 Tests.

Unlike what Warner did ahead of the 2023 Ashes, Khawaja has not publicly talked about an ideal end point for his career although this series ends at his former home ground of the SCG, the venue where he revived his Test career with twin hundreds in early 2022.

"At the end of the day, having been in that situation, you still have to score runs," Warner said. "You will deserve [the dream farewell] if you score runs and then the selectors stick by you. It's not by chance he's in this position now. He is 38 years of age, he knows what's required."