Shaheen Shah Afridi returns from injury and Babar Azam is recalled as Pakistan name their T20 squad for the home series against Australia in Lahore.
'...It's just nice to show I can score runs. I am happy to be out there and show the real me. I don't know why I threw my bat in the air, but that is me.'
'I think it's a huge credit to (head coach) Andrew McDonald, the coaching staff and the medical staff that we feel like we've got a big squad that we can draw on.'
Taking his 17th Test five-wicket haul, he finished with 7 for 58 off 12.5 overs.
Khawaja steers calm course on Ashes rollercoaster
Reeling from injuries to captain Pat Cummins and paceman Josh Hazlewood, Australia have received a boost ahead of the first Ashes Test in Perth starting Friday, with Cameron Green telling reporters he is ready to bowl free of any restrictions.
Former No. 1-ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne will be pushed up in the order to open alongside Usman Khawaja.
Australia's opening partnership has been the subject of much debate since David Warner retired and remains unresolved less than a month before the World Test Championship final against South Africa.
Khawaja said his next opening partner shouldn't be picked on the basis of how many runs he had scored at the first-class level.
Khawaja and Green were the bedrock of Australia's innings
With a massive 1,608 runs in the WTC 2021-2023 cycle, Khawaja was the major reason Australia qualified for the WTC final.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald hinted at a rejig in the top order after misfiring in the World Test Championship final defence against South Africa at Lord's.
'The moment was right': Head floors England with match-winning hundred
'(I was) getting too deep into my technique and trying to be too perfect instead of just playing with what I've got...'
Pakistan defeated Namibia by 102 runs to qualify for the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup, with Sahibzada Farhan scoring a century and the spinners delivering an excellent performance.
Images from Day 2 of the third Test between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday
Throughout the series, Konstas had altercations with Indian players. His first major incident occurred at the iconic MCG during the Boxing Day Test when he was involved in a bumping exchange with Virat Kohli. Usman Khawaja, who was batting at the other end, was seen trying to calm things down.
Australia's selectors chairman George Bailey defended sticking with the Test side's veteran core for the Ashes on Wednesday following criticism from former captain Steve Waugh about the team's ageing profile.
Star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is in contention for the prestigious title of Test Cricketer of the Year
Pat Cummins on Saturday rated himself a "half chance" to play the day-night Test against England in Brisbane from December 4.
The Ashes could be decided within days at an Adelaide Oval furnace where England's hopes of wresting back the urn will fire anew or flame out entirely against a strengthened Australia.
Following the match, Australian batsman Usman Khawaja took to social media to congratulate Afghanistan on their well-deserved win.
India and Pakistan clash in a highly anticipated T20 World Cup match. India needs middle-order stability and a fit Abhishek Sharma, while Pakistan's spin attack poses a threat. The weather forecast predicts a high chance of rain.
The contest between England's dialled-down "Bazball" approach and Australia's more methodical batting could determine who prevails in the Ashes series beginning in Perth on Friday.
Pakistan, after a defeat against India, face Namibia in a must-win match to qualify for the Super 8s. Their fragile batting and Shaheen Afridi's form are key concerns, while Namibia aims to play spoiler.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the opening Ashes Test played between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Saturday.
Australia captain Pat Cummins ensured Usman Khawaja, the first Muslim cricketer to play for Australia, was not showered by champagne amid the celebrations after winning the Ashes series.
Pakistan will be looking to avenge the defeat to the USA in the 2024 T20 World Cup when they clash in Colombo on Tuesday.
Usman Australia's Usman Khawaja was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday for sporting a black armband after the global body's rules prevented him from wearing shoes with messages of support for Gaza in a Test against Pakistan.
Steve Smith said the decision to drop Nathan Lyonwas taken to strengthen the pace-bowling department.
Now 29, Renshaw is hopeful of having another run in Test whites and believes being father to two young children has helped give him a sense of perspective.
'I think he's got the technique, he's got the patience to partner up with Uzzy (Khawaja) to allow himself to score big.'
Australia will have to dust off the cobwebs but are still fancied to successfully defend their World Test Championship crown against equally ring-rusty South Africa in the final at Lord's.
Khawaja accuses ICC of double standards over Gaza support
The 33-year-old has been in strong form in 50-overs cricket too and famously quipped "I'm back, baby" during an ODI against England in November after a successful technique tweak.
Bazball is in the firing line, with former players and pundits decrying the high-risk game on Australia's spicy pitches.
Usman Khawaja smashed the first century by an Australia batter in the current series against India to steer the tourists to 255/4 after the opening day of the fourth and final Test.
Usman Khawaja said the black armband he wore in the first Test against Pakistan was for a "personal bereavement".
Khawaja is part of the Australia team on their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years.
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