Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Spotlight on Usman Khawaja’s future in Melbourne after poor start to series

It felt like the self-inflicted collapse that maybe didn’t need to happen. Australia’s top-order combusted on the hunt for quick runs and a sporting declaration on Wednesday, stumbling again to the tricks of Indian new-ball weapon Jasprit Bumrah. The hosts declared at 7-89 in the middle session on the final day, but had crumbled to 5-33 under the heat of another blistering opening spell. Travis Head had made more runs than the rest of Australia’s top six combined in this series ahead of the second innings in Brisbane and the top of the order is becoming a growing concern ahead of two crucial matches. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne answered probing questions over their future across the past two Tests, with the spotlight now trained on Usman Khawaja. The opener’s first innings 21 in Brisbane is his best score of the series. The fear that the cliff would come quick for the 38-year-old is now looming large and he now heads to Melbourne batting for his career. It is the same situation Labuschagne found himself in earlier in the series, but the No.3 had a resounding response to the question that bought him some time. Bumrah has haunted Khawaja in this series, something the veteran is going to have to overcome at the MCG in a week’s time. Australia might bat away concerns over his second-innings dismissal under the guise of their bid to up the run-rate and the ball he copped was a ripper. But Khawaja’s one hand off the handle and Kookaburra blade flailing well clear of the ball that neatly removed his off bail is a picture of a man who just didn’t see what was coming for him. India’s bowling depth means there is every chance Khawaja could survive a Bumrah onslaught in Melbourne and cash in against an attack far more toothless beyond him. It would take quite the effort though for him to battle through that. Perhaps Australia would be right to take Khawaja to Sri Lanka in January, given among openers, he is comfortably the best-equipped player of spin. But Sam Konstas is looming large 12 months out from an Ashes series that Khawaja will turn 39 midway through. For a player who has spent the past two summers making up for lost time, a blockbuster home Ashes series would be a fitting farewell, but it feels now as if he will battle to keep his head above water.