Australia arrive at the Sydney Cricket Ground with the Ashes urn in the bag. However, their pride is still hurting after that messy two-day collapse in Melbourne. Steve Smith’s men need to find their feet fast to stop England from grabbing another late win. The goal is simple: send out retiring opener Usman Khawaja with one last victory.
5 Ways Australia Can Save The Ashes At SCG For Usman Khawaja:
1. Solving the Spinner Selection Conundrum
The selectors have a big call to make about the bowling mix. They have to weigh up a surface that usually starts spinning as the match goes on. Todd Murphy is ready and waiting for his first home Test.
Even so, the management might still feel like sticking with four fast bowlers after the Melbourne mess. History shows the SCG pitch breaks up late in the game. That makes a specialist spinner essential if Australia want to control the fourth innings.
Smith has to stop himself from leaning too hard on part-timers like Travis Head or Marnus Labuschagne. Giving Murphy the ball lets the quicks bowl in shorter, more explosive spells. A balanced attack keeps the pacers fresh so they can stay dangerous against England’s aggressive middle order.
2. Restoring Batting Discipline After the MCG Collapse
Melbourne showed Australia have a soft spot in the middle of the order. A lack of focus saw them fall apart twice in just 48 hours. The batters need to ignore the frantic tempo England try to set. They should get back to the patient, grinding style that worked for them in Perth and Adelaide.
Smith and Labuschagne have to do the heavy lifting here and anchor the innings. That means they must stop chasing wide balls outside off stump. The top order needs to put a higher price on their wickets. They have to make the English bowlers work for every single breakthrough instead of handing them easy wickets. Going back to tough, gritty batting will wear the visitors down and build a winning total.
3. Resolving the All-Rounder Dilemma
Cameron Green is under the microscope right now. His form has fallen off a cliff during this series. The bosses have to decide if they should stick with the young star for one more game or bring in Beau Webster. Webster is in great touch and could give the side some new life.
Green is the familiar face with huge potential, but Webster has the runs on the board from domestic cricket. If they keep Green, the management needs to give him a clear job to do. He needs to play without the mental baggage that is holding him back. A confident all-rounder makes the whole team work better by bridging the gap between the bats and the ball. Getting this choice right will toughen up the team’s core.
4. Countering the ‘Bazball’ Resurgence
England finally made their “all-out attack” style work at the MCG. They caught Australia napping with fast scoring and risky shots. With Pat Cummins out, Smith has to be smart with his field settings. He needs to bait the English batters into hitting over the top instead of picking out the gaps.
The bowlers have to hit a tight line and stay there. They can’t give the visitors the wide, fast balls they love to hit. Mixing up the pace and using the short ball at the right time will throw England off their game. Australia can’t just sit back; they need to meet England’s energy with their own brand of smart, aggressive cricket. If they can dry up the runs, this English lineup usually starts making mistakes. Those mistakes lead to wickets.
5. Channelling Emotion for Khawaja’s Swan Song
The fact that this is Usman Khawaja’s last Test gives the whole squad a reason to lift. His teammates will be desperate to see the veteran opener go out on top. They want to make sure his storied career ends with a win. That shared goal can help everyone focus and turn individual performances into contributions for a greater cause.
ALSO READ: Better Than Hayden & Ponting? The “After 35” Record Khawaja Just Shattered.
Usman Khawaja will be more determined than ever to do something special at his home ground. He might just be the one to hold the innings together one last time. If the team uses that emotion the right way, it turns the pressure into fuel. A clean win at the SCG is the best way to say thanks to a player who has given so much to Australian cricket.
