History beckons for Australia's ageless openers in Pakistan

Test greats Greg Chappell and Mark Waugh have backed new opener Usman Khawaja to continue his late-career renaissance on what is shaping as a challenging three-match series in Pakistan next month.

The in-form Khawaja was elevated to the opening spot at the expense of Marcus Harris for the final Test of the Vodafone Ashes in Hobart in January, making 6 and 11 in difficult batting conditions.

The reshuffle was forced by the Queensland skipper's incredible comeback Test in Sydney when he made hundreds in each innings from No.5 after being out of the side for more than two years.

Yesterday, chief selector George Bailey confirmed Khawaja would open the batting alongside David Warner in the first Test in Pakistan, meaning Australia will field two 35-year-old openers.

For that duo, history beckons; no Australian opener over the age of 33 has ever scored a Test century in any Asian nation, while only three 35-year-old Australians have reached three figures in Asia-based Tests from any position in the order: Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Mike Hussey.

Pakistan-born Khawaja is certainly a player in fine touch. Opening the batting today for the Bulls in the Marsh Sheffield Shield, he worked his way to another patient half-century on a green-tinged Gabba pitch.

And Chappell says that is exactly the trait Australia's batters will need in Pakistan.

"It will be hot, oppressive conditions, and it doesn't matter how experienced you are, batting over there is just hard work," said the 87-Test veteran, who made a double-hundred and a pair of fifties in Australia's 1980 tour of Pakistan.

"You've just got to be prepared to bat … to soak up the pressure, to work hard for your runs. Patience will be the key.

"I think batting at the top of the order is the spot for (Khawaja) – batting when the ball is coming on will suit him fine.

"He's got a good temperament for those sort of conditions – I think he'll be prepared to just go out and bat, and that's what you've got to do in that part of the world.

"He's a lot more experienced now, he knows his game – knows what he can and can't do, and he concentrates well; he's the sort of bloke who can play a long innings."

Khawaja's 63 against the Blues in Brisbane was his fifth score of 50-plus from nine innings in the Shield this summer, and it made him the first player in this year's competition to reach 500 runs.

Waugh, who is Australia's most recent Test century-maker in Pakistan, having notched 117 in the third Test in Karachi in the tourists' one-nil series win in 1998, has watched the left-hander as both selector and commentator across the past decade, and believes his technique has only gotten better in recent years.

"He's a pretty unflappable character, and his technique has tightened right up; he could be a little bit loose outside off stump in previous years, and just sort of feel for the ball, but I thought he looked really tight and compact in (the fourth Ashes Test in) Sydney in challenging conditions," he said.

"It wasn't an easy pitch to bat on in Sydney, but he made it look easy.

"Technically he's probably a better player now than he was a few years ago, and obviously mentally now he's in a good place, so I think he could do a good job as an opener in Pakistan, for sure."

Speaking with the media yesterday, Khawaja said it is still to be decided whether he and other Test squad members will feature in next week's round of Shield matches as they work out the ideal preparation for Pakistan, adding there was considerable mystery around what conditions they will be presented with through the three-Test series.

"Preparation will be different … we'll have a lot less lead-up time than we normally would for overseas tours," he said. "We'll definitely watch some footage (of Pakistan's players).

"The biggest variable in our game is the wicket, and we're not quite sure what we're going to get over there … whether they'll favour spin or pace bowling.

"It's hard to know because it's one place we haven't been. So, we all talk about adapting, and we're going to have to adapt pretty quickly, pretty well to beat the Pakistanis over there."

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

March 29:First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports