‘Beggars can’t be choosers’: Uzzie’s stern words for Marnus ahead of major WTC move

Usman Khawaja once joked that Marnus Labuschagne had “opening-itis” but suggested that his Queensland teammate may have to suck it up and get over it ahead of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lords starting Wednesday.

Khawaja made the “opening-itis” remarks in the wake of David Warner’s retirement, and Australia finds itself in the same position once again of needing to find an opener in order to stick their mantra of picking the best six batters.

Welcoming back Cameron Green has prompted the reshuffle with Labuschagne set to be displaced from his usual position, as Steve Smith was early last year for a home series against the West Indies and a tour of New Zealand.

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Teenage Boxing Day sensation Sam Konstas is set to miss out, as he did in Sri Lanka, with Labuschagne preferred to slide up from number three to partner Khawaja against the Stuart Broad-mentored Proteas new ball pairing of Kagiso Rabada, who has taken 327 Test wickets at 22, and tall left-armer Marco Jansen, who has 73 Test scalps at 21.76 .

The move to the top is one that Khawaja himself made as part of the second phase of his Test career.

It is sometimes forgotten that the stylish left-hander was Labuschagne’s predecessor at first drop before copping the axe midway through the 2019 Ashes.

Australia's Usman Khawaja (L) and teammate Marnus Labuschagne walk from the field at lunch during day one of the 1st international cricket Test match between New Zealand and Australia at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on February 29, 2024. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP) Source: AFP

But Khawaja returned to the team at number five as Travis Head missed the SCG Test of the 2021/22 Ashes with Covid, scored a century in each innings to make him indispensable, and took Marcus Harris’ opening spot to accommodate Head’s return.

It is a move many of Australia’s greats, including the likes of Justin Langer, David Boon, Simon Katich and Shane Watson, have made in the name of team balance or a fresh start.

Now, Khawaja believes it is Labuschagne's turn to follow suit.

“You don’t always get to choose in Australia. You’ve got six of the best batsmen in the country,” Khawaja said.

“Like I’ve said in the past, there are plenty of times where I prefer to bat in other positions. But beggars can’t be choosers.

“You just have to be humble that you’re playing for Australia.

Australia's Usman Khawaja (R) talks with teammate Marnus Labuschagne during a training session at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 13, 2024, ahead of the third Test cricket match against India, starting on December 14. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- Source: AFP

Khawaja added: “You take what you get and you make the best out of it. At the end of the day, it’s a team game.

“The best place for me to bat for the team is to open. So I’m very happy to open and do my role for the team. I’m sure if it’s the same for Marnus, I’m 100%. I know he’ll take that role.

“[When] you bat three, I think the opening is an easier transition. The only time it’s hard is when you bat second. You have to run off and change [into] your pads.

“Usually when I was at three, I just put my feet up. You don’t get to do that anymore. That’s the biggest difference.

“But Marnus is a terrific player. If he gets an opportunity, I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

In the three and a half years since Khawaja permanently took his place at the top of the order, he has been a picture of stability while the other end has been akin to a “revolving door”, particularly in the past 18 months.

Warner was settled in the team until his retirement after the SCG Test of 2024 against Pakistan, while Head partnered Khawaja on tours of India and Sri Lanka.

Smith first attempted to fill the void left by Warner before Nathan McSweeney, who had not opened in Sheffield Shield cricket before his Test debut, and Konstas had a crack against India and the might of Jasprit Bumrah.

The ever-changing nature of the opening partnership has not bothered Khawaja, however.

“An opener can get out first ball and you’re batting with number three anyway,” the 38-year-old said.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 09: Usman Khawaja of Australia during a nets session at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 09, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“So it’s not that big of a deal. All the guys that are in this team I’ve batted with. Opening has been a revolving door for a long time. But I think it just shows you how hard opening is. It’s not an easy place to bat.

“I’ve had a few partners since Davey’s gone. It’s just a tough place to bat. You can’t hide in Test cricket. I think whoever’s going to come in will do a good job. But for me, it’s no different.”

Labuschagne’s expected departure from number three leaves Australian captain Pat Cummins, who had a cheeky dig at the behaviour of the Lords members after the carry on in the Ashes two years ago, with the choice of either bumping Smith up a place, or slotting Green straight in.

Smith’s return to number four prompted a return to form with centuries at the Gabba and MCG against India as well as back-to-back hundreds in Sri Lanka.

But Green has only walked-in at first drop once before in his first-class career, while Smith’s career average at number three (67.07) is astonishingly higher than the 61.61 average he boasts at number four.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 09: Steve Smith of Australia during a nets session at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 09, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Smith is even on the famed honour boards at Lords for a double century against England a decade ago from number three, as he occupied the position from 2015 to 2017.

Green appears set to take on the job however, with the 26-year-old happy to bat where he is told to in his comeback from back surgery.

“You grow up through your whole career, you speak to anyone here, they’ve definitely batted in the top three or four throughout their whole junior career,” Green said.

“I was no different, batting three until you get to first-class cricket. Absolutely no issues batting at three when you’ve done it your whole life.”

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The West Australian has been on fire in the middle order for county side Gloucestershire in recent months, scoring three centuries and an unbeaten 67 from in a winning run chase in a five-game stint for the Division Two outfit.

He missed the entire Australian summer after having back surgery following the white-ball tour of the United Kingdom last September.

In a touching gesture, Green revealed that Indian superstar Bumrah contacted him to offer his best wishes for the surgery before he arrived on Australian shores and delivered a player of the series winning haul of 32 wickets at 13.06 in a team that lost the series 3-1.

“He was in the middle of a Test match in India,” Green said. “Just a few things like that are really special and makes you feel a lot better about it. To get someone like him to reach out and then to watch him during the summer, to see how good he is obviously post-surgery, filled me with a lot of confidence.”

Aussies begin WTC Final prep | 01:08

Green is back bowling at training, although is yet to be ready to bowl in a match.

The time to focus purely on his batting has been somewhat of a blessing, however.

“The silver lining to having four back injuries is I’ve got four chances only to be a batter,” Green said.

“I felt like my game’s always been good around those periods. I’m always going to keep bowling, but you’re so much more relaxed [with] half a game to worry about.

“When you’re bowling and batting, there’s so much more you have to do bowling-wise to keep yourself fit and ready to play. It does take away from batting. So, certainly, just batting is nice.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Cameron Green of Australia during a nets session at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 08, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Green added: “It’s certainly the best I’ve felt batting in England.

“To get the chance to come over and play some county cricket is massively valuable. So it’s the most prepared I’ve been.

“I think it’s learning what the different conditions can bring… speaking to a few county guys who’ve been here for years, different ways to go about it.

“Certain cliches like defending straight and scoring square. It’s normally the complete opposite to Australia, where you’re looking to just hit straight down the ground.”

Hazlewood chats World Test Championship | 01:11

The expected moves of Labuschagne to open and Green to number three is likely to keep all-rounder Beau Webster in the team at number six, albeit Josh Inglis, who scored a debut century in Sri Lanka is also vying for that place.

Josh Hazlewood, who is set to be chosen ahead of Scott Boland, spoke of the bowlers’ want for an all-rounder to be picked to help shoulder the workload, and Webster debuted in the series finale at the SCG against India before playing both Tests in Sri Lanka.

The Tasmanian has been the Sheffield Shield’s leading player in recent seasons and has scored 150 runs at 50 from four innings in his Test career to date, including a first innings half century and an unbeaten 39 in Australia’s successful run chase on debut.

He has also chipped in with three wickets at 24 at Test level with his combination of medium pace and off spin, and has been a revelation in the field.

He took some brilliant catches in the deep in Galle, but is also a safe pair of hands in the slips, where the presence of Webster and Green’s mighty wingspans might mean the Australian cordon covers everything from first slip to backward point.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Beau Webster of Australia during a nets session at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 08, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

But Webster had a lean county stint with the bat for Warwickshire, making one half-century in four games, although he took 10 wickets.

Green’s eventual return to the bowling crease makes Webster vulnerable long-term, but the 31-year-old is well aware of that and is simply focusing on taking his chances.

“He’s one of those guys that comes through where you just know how special he’s going to be,” Webster said of Green.

“He bowls quick, he’s big, he can catch, and obviously batting is another thing. What happens down the line in one or two years’ time, I’m not sure, and how that top order looks.

“What I can do is keep making runs, keep taking wickets and keep my name up there in that No. 6 position where I feel like I’m best suited.

“Like we’ve seen with Cameron, he’s so versatile, he can bat anywhere in the top six. I’m certainly hoping he can stay at the top of the order somewhere and free up some room down there at No. 6.”

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