Usman Khawaja said he is ready to bat anywhere for Australia if selected for the upcoming Ashes series against England.
The 34-year-old last played a test in the 2019 Ashes series, where Australia retained the trophy after a 2-2 draw, but there have been calls for him to be recalled after the Queensland skipper scored successive centuries in the Sheffield Shield first-class competition this season.
“If you’re talking about me opening and whatnot, I’ve been batting four for Queensland for the last two years,” Khawaja told local media on Tuesday.
“So for me batting, if there’s a spot at five it’s as likely as opening the batting. It probably makes more sense in some respects.
“I think I’ve talked to selectors about it, I’ve told them I can bat anywhere along the order.”
The five-test Ashes starts in Brisbane on Dec. 8.
Khawaja also said he was excited about Australia’s tour of Pakistan next year, with the team set to visit for the first time since 1998.
He previously criticised the decisions by New Zealand and England to scrap their tours to Pakistan.
“It’s amazing, fingers crossed everything goes well,” Khawaja said. “It’s massive for Pakistan cricket, something they haven’t had for such a long time, a country that absolutely loves cricket.
“Even though (I was) born in Pakistan, for me, it’s just about spreading the beautiful game of cricket.”
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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