Khawaja cool as spot in XI remains unclear

Usman Khawaja still doesn't know where he will bat for Australia in Thursday's first Test against India, but says he's not fussed about the uncertainty, or whatever position he eventually lands in.

While Khawaja is assured of a spot in the Test XI, Australia are still yet to make a clear call between opener Marcus Harris or his Victoria teammate and middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb.

The national selection panel will make that call this week after getting a final look at the pair against the Test bowling attack in net sessions at the Adelaide Oval ahead of the opening Domain Test match.

Should Harris get the nod, he can expect to open – most likely alongside another Victorian in Aaron Finch, who made a successful debut in that unfamiliar red-ball role against Pakistan in the UAE.

That would see Khawaja come in at the fall of the first wicket, where Test great Ricky Ponting selected him in his first Test XI for cricket.com.au, also calling out the 31-year-old as his selection for the series' top run scorer.

However, if selectors decide to return the in-form, and right-handed, Handscomb to the XI then Khawaja will continue to open the batting for Australia, having been a standout performer in the role on the UAE tour.

Justin Langer is understood to be a fan of continuing the Khawaja-Finch opening partnership after the pair did so well against Pakistan.

"The only thing it affects is how fast I have to run off the field," Khawaja told RSN Breakfast Club today.

"You only get 10 minutes as an opener, which is a pain in the a***. I love batting No.3 because you often get a little rest, little breather, put your pads on nice and easy, watch the openers scurry off.

"But it doesn't make a difference whatsoever."

Of course, the Trevor Hohns chaired selection panel could opt for a different direction and shuffle Finch into the middle order for Australian conditions, where he has batted the majority of his first-class cricket with Victoria.

Whichever way the team goes, the most malleable piece of the puzzle is Khawaja, the 31-year-old veteran of 35 Tests who is Australia's star batsman of a new look Test outfit.

"It's something that's not on my mind because it doesn't really bother me," Khawaja told SEN radio.  

"I'm just training as I would (for) any other game, ready to get out there and play some cricket.

"I'm prepared to bat wherever I'm told to bat. I'm expecting it to be three or opening, but we have two openers in the side.

"At the moment (I think) it's three, but if they want me to open I'm happy to open."

Khawaja has history opening in Adelaide. In the 2016 day-night Test against South Africa, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis made an opportunistic declaration with David Warner off the field injured, forcing Khawaja's elevation from No.3 to bat alongside Matthew Renshaw.

He responded with a brilliant 145 that helped set-up a seven-wicket win to revitalise Australia's team after five successive Test defeats.

By far and away, the bulk of Khawaja's innings have been at No.3 for Australia. He's batted there 51 times in Test cricket, and since his recall to the Australian side for the 2015-16 summer, he's scored 1625 runs there and averaged 45.13. At home, that average rises to 59.70, with four centuries.

The Queensland captain credits a more mature mindset and approach to both cricket and life with his ability to take the uncertainty in his stride.

"When I was younger it was probably a little bit different. I was really stuck on No.3 because that's where I'd batted my whole life in first-class cricket," Khawaja said.

"I was like, 'Nah, I'm a No.3, I have to bat No.3'.

"But as you get a bit older and you play a bit more cricket you realise there really isn't too much difference apart from a slight change of mindset."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar