cricket. They’ve done their time. They’ve done everything they’ve been asked to do. They’ve scored runs, they’ve got wickets.And if you ask any of the guys who have ever played with them or been around them, they’re just good people.”Johnson had called for Labuschagne, currently the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, to open alongside Marcus Harris once Warner retires. But Khawaja, who is also in the mix to open in Sydney, warned against disrupting the Queenslander’s successful partnership with skipper Pat Cummins in the middle order.“I think that would be a mistake,” said Khawaja, who made his Test debut in 2011 alongside Warner. “You’ve got to have a specialist opener at the top of the order. I know people talk about Marnus but I think he’s brilliant at No.3 or No.4.”The 48-Test veteran said he would relish taking on the role full-time but wouldn’t be fazed if selectors opt for a younger candidate.“I’ve opened in white-ball cricket all the time and I’ve been doing it for a number of years now,” Khawaja said.“I love opening the batting and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world, but whatever role I’m given, I’m happy to do.”Usman Khawaja has declared it would be a mistake to move Marnus Labuschagne to the top of Australia’s batting order, saying a specialist opener should replace David Warner when the veteran retires from Test cricket next month. Khawaja made the call as he launched a staunch defence of his opening partner Warner in the wake of a withering spray from former Test quick Mitchell Johnson.Johnson wrote in a newspaper column that Warner doesn’t deserve a guaranteed Test farewell against Pakistan next month at the SCG due to his role in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal which led to him and Steve Smith being suspended for a year, and Cameron Bancroft copping a nine-month ban.The BBL is back! Watch every match live with no ad breaks during play on Kayo. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >“Davey Warner and Steve Smith are heroes in my mind,” Khawaja said.“They missed a year of cricket. They’ve done their time. They’ve done everything they’ve been asked to do. They’ve scored runs, they’ve got wickets.And if you ask any of the guys who have ever played with them or been around them, they’re just good people.”Johnson had called for Labuschagne, currently the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, to open alongside Marcus Harris once Warner retires. But Khawaja, who is also in the mix to open in Sydney, warned against disrupting the Queenslander’s successful partnership with skipper Pat Cummins in the middle order.“I think that would be a mistake,” said Khawaja, who made his Test debut in 2011 alongside Warner. “You’ve got to have a specialist opener at the top of the order. I know people talk about Marnus but I think he’s brilliant at No.3 or No.4.”The 48-Test veteran said he would relish taking on the role full-time but wouldn’t be fazed if selectors opt for a younger candidate.“I’ve opened in white-ball cricket all the time and I’ve been doing it for a number of years now,” Khawaja said.“I love opening the batting and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world, but whatever role I’m given, I’m happy to do.”
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