Last Updated on 4 months ago by Charbel Coorey

Usman Khawaja remains a chance of returning to Australia’s XI for the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval. Khawaja has overcome the back spasms that limited his participation at Perth and ruled him out of the subsequent Brisbane Test.

Australia possible XI for the 3rd Ashes Test against England at Adelaide Oval: 1. Jake Weatherald, 2. Usman Khawaja, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Scott Boland

Michael Hussey believes selectors should play Khawaja as they started the series with him.

“If you think about it, before the Ashes series started Khawaja was at the top of the order. Would that one innings change the whole mindset of the selectors? From him being locked in as the opener for the Ashes series, to one innings later suddenly he’s just out of the team. In my mind, no,” Hussey said, as quoted by CODE Sports.

Last week, coach Andrew McDonald didn’t rule out the possibility of the 38-year-old batting in the middle order. However, Khawaja at opener allows Travis Head to bat at five, a position where he has smashed 497 Test runs at an average of 99.4 and strike rate of 86.1 at the Adelaide Oval.

According to Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja was the second-last Australian player in the nets on Monday. He, along with Jake Weatherald and Travis Head, trained against the new ball.

CODE Sports journalist Daniel Cherney shared a photo of Josh Inglis fielding in the slips in Monday’s training session. Steve Smith skipped training as he was unwell, but is expected to train on match eve.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon to return

Nathan Lyon, who was left out of the XI at the Gabba, will come back into the team. A good batting surface is expected at Adelaide, with very hot conditions during the Test likely to bring spin into the game as the match wears on. The offspinner has taken 63 wickets on his favourite ground at an average of 25.37.

Pat Cummins will also return after missing the first two Tests. Cummins has trained strongly since suffering a lumbar stress injury in the West Indies earlier this year.

Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser – unluckily – are set to miss out. Neser took a fantastic five-wicket haul in the second innings at the Gabba. The only chance he plays at Adelaide is if Australia choose to rest Scott Boland and keep him fresh for the MCG. However, that seems unlikely.

A win or draw in the third Test will confirm Australia’s retention of the coveted Ashes urn for the fourth straight time after winning them back in 2017/18.