MITCHELL JOHNSON: Usman Khawaja’s strong first innings knock in third Ashes Test won’t be enough to save him

It’s been an interesting and, at times, confusing week in Adelaide.

Much of the discussion has centred on Usman Khawaja, where he sits in this Ashes series and what his future looks like. With Khawaja turning 39 today, those conversations were already there before a ball was bowled this summer.

Should he be in the squad? Should he be in the XI? Those questions only intensified after the first two Tests – along with plenty of controversy over some golf, a back injury and a ‘s..t pitch’ - with Jake Weatherald and Travis Head performing well at the top of the order.

Khawaja was fit and available for Adelaide. Despite that, he wasn’t picked. In simple terms, he was dropped. Australia had settled on an XI they felt was working, the top order looked stable, and being 2–0 up in the series meant change wasn’t urgent. From the outside, things weren’t trending in Khawaja’s favour.

Then came the chaos of the morning of day one. News broke that Steve Smith was suffering from dizziness and nausea, the kind of symptoms that completely rule you out of playing Test cricket. Anyone who’s experienced that knows it’s not something you push through. For Smith, Khawaja, and the selectors, that moment changes everything.

Put yourself in Khawaja’s position. The night before, he would’ve been preparing mentally for a very different role. Twelfth man duties. Extra net sessions. Staying sharp for Melbourne or Sydney if an opportunity arose.

There would’ve been disappointment and frustration, that’s natural, but also an understanding that this is professional sport. The top order has held firm, and Australia are in a commanding position in the series.

Whether this is his final Test or not, these moments become ones you savour, because you never truly know when your last game will be.

So he wakes up on day one free of mind, knowing he’s not playing, and suddenly, everything flips. That situation can go two ways. One, you walk out free, relaxed, with nothing to lose. Or two, panic creeps in, you feel rushed, underdone, mentally scrambled.

This is where experience matters. This is what being a professional cricketer is about: staying ready when you’re not required, because the game doesn’t warn you when it’s about to change your role.

Khawaja’s response told you plenty. He went out and batted without fuss, without baggage. His first-innings 82 was calm, composed, and exactly what Australia needed at the time.

Will it have an impact on selection for the rest of the series? Honestly, I’m not sure. I don’t think one innings suddenly rewrites the conversation that’s been happening all summer. Coming into this Test, the talk was already about whether Khawaja would play again at all, or whether his career was nearing its end.

My sense is that he’s aware of where he sits. He seems comfortable with what he’s achieved and where he’s at. Whether this is his final Test or not, these moments become ones you savour, because you never truly know when your last game will be.

Spare a thought for Smith as well. Watching from the sidelines, seeing a good Adelaide pitch and knowing Australia have a chance to clinch the series - that would sting. Frustration would be inevitable. But the right decision was made, both for him and the team. Leaving Smith out of a crucial Test is never easy, but health comes first, and Test cricket doesn’t allow half-measures.

The team won’t dwell on it. They won’t make excuses. That’s not how this Australian side operates.

Nathan Lyon’s return adds another layer to the story. Dropped in Brisbane, openly disappointed, now back in Adelaide where spin traditionally plays a role. Like Khawaja, Lyon understands the stage of his career he’s in. He’s earned the right to confidence, but pressure never disappears, it just changes shape.

This is Test cricket. It’s rarely fair, often cruel, and always demanding. Khawaja not being picked initially might feel harsh to some, but the lesson remains the same: be ready for anything. When the chance came, he did the only thing that matters, he scored runs.

And sometimes, that’s all the game asks of you.