Usman Khawaja's twin hundreds in the fourth Ashes Test match against England, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, helped him hold his place for the fifth and the final Test match, in Hobart. However, he will open batting this time instead of Marcus Harris, while Travis Head will reclaim the No. 5 spot.
While confirming Khawaja’s place in the Hobart Test, captain Pat Cummins also mentioned that Harris was ‘part of the future’ for Australia. ‘It's not too often that someone comes in and gets two hundreds in the same game. Uzzie and Davey have earnt their spots to open the batting but the reality is they're both 35 years old.’
Head did not feature in the fourth Ashes Test after contracting Covid-19 in Melbourne and was forced into isolation.
However, Australia will make the final call on Scott Boland’s inclusion only after assessing his fitness during the last training session before the match. Boland hurt his ribs in Sydney during the fourth Test match and underwent a fitness test after that. If he is declared unfit, Jhye Richardson or Michael Neser will replace him.
The others, meanwhile, have retained their places. Australia are currently 3-0 up in the five-match series before the fifth and the final Test, beginning on 14 January at the Bellerive Oval.