Usman Khawaja is feeling 100 per cent fit and ready to fire as he eschews chatter about a farewell Test, ready to embrace a middle-order demotion.
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Khawaja turns 39 on Thursday, day two of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval.
The left-hander, who suffered debilitating back spasms during the series opener then sat out the day-night Test, remains unsure whether selectors will rush him into the XI.
But Khawaja is far more bullish about the state of his back and availability after landing in Adelaide, in sharp contrast to last week's Gabba net session that prompted him to be ruled out.
"It's starting to feel really good now. Yeah, I'm very happy about it. I feel like myself again." he told reporters.
"I'm 100 (per cent). I'm good.
"But I felt 100 before the Perth Test. It's just one of those things, I've done everything."
Khawaja, who has a golden chance to help retain the urn with victory in the third Test if recalled, highlighted the running, batting and gym work he did as Australia cruised to victory in Brisbane.
"When you get injured, you have to do more, right? If I wasn't injured, I could have just gone on Contiki for a week and just chilled," he quipped.
"Obviously hope to play. I don't really know. I haven't really had a chat too much with the selectors.
"It's not my decision. The older I've got, the more comfortable I've got with things that I can control and things that I can't. I feel really good in terms of I'm ready to go."
Khawaja's only road back into the team had seemingly been at the top of the order, which looked decidedly rocky given how new opening pair Travis Head and Jake Weatherald have fared.
But coach Andrew McDonald floated the prospect of Khawaja batting in the middle order after Australia took a 2-0 series lead.
The veteran has played the vast majority of his 85-Test career in the top three, with two innings at No.4, two at No.5 and three at No.6.
Ironically, those two knocks at No.5 came in the 2021-22 Ashes, when he was recalled from Test exile because Head contracted COVID-19 and was an enforced omission.
Khawaja delivered twin tons at the SCG, entrenching himself in the team.
"I would've batted four, maybe two years ago for Queensland," Khawaja said.
"Five or six, it's been a long time.
"No issues. I've always done really well batting at four or five.
"Normally people that open aren't as attuned to No.5 as opening because they're not as good at playing spin. But I've proven I'm one of the best players of spin in Australia.
"My subcontinent record is one of the best ever for Australia, so that's never been the issue. I can bat anywhere."
Regardless of how the next few weeks unfold, this is widely expected to be Khawaja's last summer in the Test squad.
The Pakistan-born star, who graduated through Sydney grade cricket ranks then made his Test debut against England at the SCG in 2011, remains coy.
"If people want to talk about farewell Tests or whatever, that's got no relevance to me," Khawaja said.
"I could have retired two years ago. I could have retired at any time. But I'm still valued by the team, so I'm here.
"And I'm always mindful of the future too. I always have been, I'm not here to hang around ... I'm just here to enjoy my cricket.
"As long as I'm valued, I'm here. I'm doing my job. And I've done quite well over the last few years."
Australian Associated Press
