Neymar is being backed to reunite with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami as the Brazilian remains a “huge name” around the world and a notable coup for MLS. As things stand, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker is running down his contract at Santos. Brad Friedel has told GOAL why a deal for the Samba superstar makes sense for those in North America.

Injury questions: Is Neymar fit enough for MLS move?

Neymar has endured more frustration on the injury front since returning to his homeland, with ACL damage previously leading to the eventual termination of his contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. The 33-year-old is currently playing through pain in a shock relegation battle.

It remains to be seen whether any lasting damage is suffered, with the ultimate goal being to represent Brazil at next summer’s World Cup finals. A change of scenery at club level may have been taken in by then, with the talented forward preparing to hit free agency.

AdvertisementGettyCommercial value vs sporting sense: Do Neymar numbers add up?

There have been suggestions that David Beckham and Co could look to reform the fabled ‘MSN’ attacking unit in Miami, with Neymar set to be presented with the chance to link up with ex-Barca team-mates Messi and Luis Suarez.

Quizzed on whether such a deal would make as much sense from a sporting perspective as it does a commercial one, ex-USMNT and MLS star Friedel – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “You have to look at it this way in the US. It has been documented recently, with the change in Apple TV, I don’t think that has gone as swimmingly as they had hoped. The subscription amounts, the numbers for that MLS package, aren’t at a level so they are changing, I think they announced, next year. I think they are trying a lot of things to get the notoriety of the league and the viewership up.

“I understand it. What makes leagues tick is the revenue machine of media rights – that’s why the Premier League is such a machine. Right now in the US, it doesn’t cover salary caps. It’s a single entity venture. Let’s say Inter Miami makes money but Houston loses, everyone has to share in the loss around the league.

“If Neymar is fit, then I think it works, I really do because he’s still a huge name in certain parts of the US. The trouble is if he’s not fit and he’s injured a lot, then it becomes a negative media-driven reality. I can understand arguments on both sides for sure.

“I would assume, and these are smart guys, it would be a tiered contract based on performances and being fit. Having spent some time in Miami, before Messi came you wouldn’t have really known that Miami had a team. From the time that he came, there are pink and black shirts everywhere. If Neymar came, it would add to that.

“I can understand what they are trying to do. You have to look at it carefully because it’s a tough one due to his injury record. But he has that special talent that can really excite some American fans. He can do some special things. I would probably be 55 for it and 45 against.”

Risk and reward: Why Neymar appeals to MLS market

Friedel previously told GOAL of the risks involved in making a play for Neymar: “I think it would be a risk on anyone’s behalf; I think it just depends on how you would structure the contract. You also have to weigh the pros and cons – when you sign legends of the game like Neymar, you also have to take into account the commercial opportunities that go with it, and it coincides nearly every time with the salary and wage packet that you are going to give.

“You are going to make a substantial amount of money off the field when you bring someone like that in. I think there is probably more of a sporting risk than a commercial risk – or equally so if he does get injured. But if he doesn’t get injured, the risk becomes his age and the injuries he has had, and whether he can be that player [they need].

“The plus side is, it is a league that is a step down from where he is playing. Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time, but he can play many more years in MLS. It is a league that will allow players to do that, so I think Inter Miami need to weigh the pros and cons of what they can earn off the field and try to get it correct.

“If they can structure the contract correctly, then it limits the risk. Having Neymar alongside Messi again – I am not sure. We will wait and see, but the league needs to do something commercially.”

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GOAL/GettyMSN reforming: Will Neymar end up at Inter Miami?

Neymar has previously spoken of his desire to work with Messi again, having enjoyed considerable success alongside the Argentine GOAT at Barcelona and during a testing spell in France with PSG.

He has not figured for Brazil since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023 and may need a fresh start, alongside some familiar faces, in order to recapture peak form and convince Selecao boss Carlo Ancelotti of his worth.

MatériaMais Notícias

Ao que tudo indica, o técnico Zubeldía deu jeito no São Paulo. Em nove jogos disputados, o treinador venceu sete e empatou dois, continuando invicto no comando do Soberano. No último jogo, o Tricolor dominou e venceu o antigo algoz Talleres, jogando no MorumBIS.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! São Paulo no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Tricolor

Atitude incomum de Zubeldía foi exaltada por torcedores do São Paulo contra o Talleres

Em jogo tenso pela Libertadores, o Tricolor vencia por 1 a 0 e a partida caminhava para os minutos finais. Até que Luciano acertou chutaço de longe para encobrir o goleiro Guido Herrera e sacramentar a vitória são-paulina.

Ao ver a bola balançar as redes, Zubeldía correu em alta velocidade da área técnica, exalando felicidade, e foi até Luciano para comemorar com os jogadores e torcedores do São Paulo.

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➡️ Goleiro do Talleres vai para cima de árbitro, polícia age e torcida do São Paulo provoca: ‘Timinho’

Nas redes sociais, torcedores foram à loucura com a situação e exaltaram o treinador argentino. Comentários como “Zubeldía e alegria”, “momento maravilhoso” e “eu te amo” foram publicados.

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Peter Moores is in line to become men’s head coach at Trent Rockets in the Hundred, with Adam Voges in talks to join the franchise as his assistant.Andy Flower had coached Rockets’ men since the Hundred’s first season but left his role to take up a lucrative job offer from London Spirit. Andrew Flintoff and Stephen Fleming were both candidates to take over from him, but ESPNcricinfo has learned that Moores is now the favourite to take charge in 2026, adding to his role as Nottinghamshire’s head coach.Rockets are operating under new ownership, after private equity firms Cain and Ares bought a 49% stake earlier this year. They will run the franchise jointly with host county Notts, who will retain operational control as majority shareholders, and confirmed Chris Read’s appointment as women’s head coach on Thursday.Moores spent this season – in which Rockets were losing finalists – working as one of Flower’s assistants, and recently signed a three-year contract extension with Notts. He has previous experience in franchise cricket with Melbourne Stars and Karachi Kings, and oversaw Notts’ County Championship triumph last season.Related

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Voges has not previously worked in the Hundred but has established himself as a highly-rated coach after success with Western Australia and Perth Scorchers. He has a long-standing connection with Nottinghamshire, spending five years as one of their overseas players from 2008-12, and has also worked as an assistant coach for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.Three men’s coaches for the Hundred’s 2026 season have been publicly confirmed: Flower (Spirit), Mike Hussey (Welsh Fire) and Shane Bond (Birmingham Phoenix), with Daniel Vettori set to join the newly-renamed Sunrisers Leeds.Justin Langer is a potential contender to take charge at Manchester Originals (soon to become Super Giants) after he left Spirit, with Tom Moody becoming the franchise’s global director of cricket. Simon Katich has coached Originals’ men since inception.Southern Brave are yet to confirm a successor to Adi Birrell, with Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani believed to be a contender for the role, while defending champions Oval Invincibles (who will become MI London shortly) are also on the hunt for a new men’s coach after Moody’s departure.Surrey’s deal with Reliance Industries Limited to become co-owners of the Invincibles franchise is the only outstanding paperwork in the Hundred’s privatisation process. It has still not been officially completed, but an announcement is anticipated shortly.

Extraordinary over sees Green and Smith both depart just as Australia seemed poised to bat England out of second Test

Andrew McGlashan05-Dec-20251:01

Weatherald: Australia in a ‘good position’ heading into day three

While Joe Root’s century dominated discussions after play on the opening day at the Gabba there was a major question which hung in the air into the second morning: how good was England’s total, which eventually finished on 334? Prior to the resumption, one former Australia player was overheard saying it was a day to cash in.At 291 for 3, with Steven Smith and Cameron Green well set, building on the earlier work of Jake Weatherald’s eye-catching 72 and Marnus Labuschagne’s brisk 65, they had engineered an almost-ideal position to do just that. England were toiling away with 57-over old pink ball, which even under lights wasn’t offering much.Reaching the close on 378 for 6, a lead of 44, means they remain in control – although it might have been different had England held their catches – but one extraordinary over left the door ajar. Whether they are made to pay will become clear on Saturday.Related

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Even by the early standards of this series, and with what day-night games can throw up, it was a remarkable period of Test cricket. A few moments earlier, Green had taken on Brydon Carse when he bowled short with an unorthodox field – three on the off, but no one from deep third around to mid-off, and six scattered on the leg. Green twice backed away and carved Carse through off side then Smith top edged a pull for six which just evaded Ollie Pope who was on the rope directly behind the keeper.Carse changed ends, started with a very short bouncer which was called wide, then pulled the double-bluff by going full and straight. Green was already backing away before the ball left Carse’s hand and ended up miles outside leg, almost off the cut strip in a position that will go viral for the wrong reasons, as he threw the bat out in vain to try and reach the delivery. It was out of character for Green, even by the standards of his white-ball batting.”The short-ball plan is one of those things where everyone has their own methods.” Weatherald said. “The way I’d probably go about it is different than the way Cam and Smithy went about it. Because of that, we probably scored in different ways and provided different problems for the England bowlers.”Obviously Greeny backed himself…[he] probably would have his shot back if he could, we all can when we get out. But up to then, I think he put a lot of pressure on them, same with Smudge [Smith] as well.”Yet the over had only just started. Alex Carey was dropped in the gully first ball when he fended a short delivery which Ben Duckett couldn’t gather. Two balls later, Will Jacks pulled in a spectacular one-handed grab at backward square leg to intercept Smith’s pull. England sensed a way back but Carey and Michael Neser, not always entirely convincingly, combined in what could be a critical partnership.Cameron Green was bowled backing away too far•CA/Getty ImagesAustralia’s overall scoring rate of 5.17 was, as it stood when play ended, the fastest they had scored in an innings of at least 60 overs. “It wasn’t talked about,” Labuschagne told the host broadcaster. “With [Travis Head] and Weathers at the top they just grabbed the momentum and we piggybacked off that and sort of kept going.”While the wildness of the passage of play that saw Green and Smith depart was at the extreme end, a look at Australia’s scorecard suggests a day of unfulfilled potential with six of the top seven falling between 23 and 72 although Josh Inglis did not go to an aggressive stroke, bowled by one from Ben Stokes that perhaps kept a fraction low.”I’d probably reframe that and say that we’re in the position we are now, we have a lead before the next new ball, because of the shots we’ve been playing, the options we took,” Weatherald said. “You’d probably say that some of the shots were a bit reckless at times, but at the same time, they backed themselves. As a group, that’s what we want to do. In general, I think it came off quite well.”In a sense emphasising some of the cricket that was to follow, Weatherald’s own innings felt like one of the more controlled elements of the day even though he was above a run-a-ball for much of its early stages and finished with 72 off 78.For the second time in two innings, the opening partnership between him and Head took the wind out of England’s sails. In Perth it was to set up victory, here it prevented early damage against the new ball, but was also scored at such a rate that Australia had wrestled control, and effectively cancelled out the last-wicket runs England flayed the previous evening.It was Weatherald, in just his second Test, leading the charge rather than Head, who battled to 4 off 27 balls and was dropped by Jamie Smith. After three maidens, Weatherald opened the scoring with a strong cut against Gus Atkinson, although he needed some fortune for his second boundary in the same over when a top-edged pull flew over the keeper.There was a compactness and punchiness to his play, no better illustrated than when he collected three boundaries in an over off Atkinson: a crunching cover drive, a clip through square leg and a crisp drive through point. Of Australia’s first 36 runs, Weatherald made 28, although he later said he was as pleased with his leaving as he was with his aggressive strokes.”I think we’re quite an adaptable batting group at the moment,” he said. “Obviously, Heady will always go about it the way he does. But for me, I’m just seeing and reacting and trying to get in good positions. I didn’t actively go out there and play any differently than I normally would. It just ended up that way. It’s a really good wicket to bat on.”After drinks, Weatherald arched his back and uppercut Carse over deep third for six. He went to 49 with consecutive boundaries: a clip down to fine and another brilliant uppercut over backward point. A swivel-pull to deep square then brought up a maiden Test fifty off 45 balls. The prospect of three figures was coming into view when, in Weatherald’s own words, Jofra Archer “blew my foot off” when he was pinned lbw by a rare full delivery.There remains a good chance that Weatherald has played an innings that helps Australia go 2-0 up in the Ashes, although it’s not as clearcut as it could have been. But that really just continues the theme of the first four days of the series, which have left you turning up for the next day asking what could happen next.

It wasn’t perfect, but Manchester United secured three points at Molineux to return to winning ways in the Premier League and gear up for another charge toward Champions League contention.

Bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers crumbled away after the break, and the Red Devils made them pay, with Bruno Fernandes’ brace coming either side of second-half strikes from Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount.

The home side might be at the centre of a catastrophic failure this season, but take nothing away from United’s slick attacking play, creating a platform to build on after labouring to a draw against West Ham United at Old Trafford last week.

How Man Utd beat Wolves

Amorim’s Red Devils have rekindled the feel-good factor. There is work still to be done, and the Portuguese tactician’s system leaves something to be desired, but Manchester United are just one point behind fourth-placed Crystal Palace.

Amorim knew his side would dominate the ball, and dictate the flow of possession they did, but he would have drilled into his troops at half-time a lesson about wayward shooting. As per Sofascore, United chalked up an xG total of 4.01 across the match, with 3.06 of that total coming after the interval despite 14 of the 27 shots on the evening being lashed across the first half.

It’s also worth noting that five of United’s seven shots on target came during the first half. This may have smacked of desperation in other circumstances, but at Molineux illustrated a tactical tweak orienting toward greater variation, a ramping-up of the gas that outfoxed a Wolves backline that crumbled under pressure.

One way of looking at it would be that United toiled, to little avail, before the break, but we also saw tactical adaptation from a manager who has been criticised for his obstinacy.

Content creator Adam Joseph said that “tonight doesn’t solve any issues”, but he praised the victory all the same. Now, Amorim needs to go one step further and deepen the nuances of his system, surely ending one protracted experiment which might have seen the visitors come unstuck, had they been playing a higher calibre of opponent.

Amorim must boldly drop Man United talent

Amad Diallo is one of the most talented players in Manchester United’s squad, but he’s also been played out of position for the lion’s share of the Amorim era, and the contest at Molineux issued a reminder that he cannot continue in an unnatural wing-back berth forever.

Not only does it hinder the 23-year-old’s attacking play, but it also fails to offer United’s system the balance and fluency it requires down the right channel.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

68

Accurate passes

39/44 (89%)

Chances created

4

Possession lost

9x

Crosses

1/3

Dribbles

2/4

Recoveries

3

Tackles won

1/1

Duels won

5/9

This was by no means a, quote unquote, disasterclass, but Amad did leave something to be desired, lacking end product and culpable for a few defensive lapses. The Manchester Evening News recognised this, handing the Ivory Coast international a 6/10 match rating.

Amad, after all, was perhaps at fault for the Old Gold’s parity-restoring goal before the break, failing to close David Møller Wolfe as the wing-back cut back to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who scored.

There were flashes of quality, for sure, but we must remember that Amad is performing, dutifully, in a role that is not his own, and this was picked up by analyst Raj Chohan, who remarked that it has been “completely unserious squad planning” on Amorim’s part, shoehorning a fleet-footed forward into a position that he “does not suit playing” in.

This season, ten of Amad’s 15 appearances have come as United’s right-sided wing-back, with five outings made in an attacking role off the central striker.

There he plays his best stuff, and if Amorim is to succeed at the club and lead the squad for the long run, he will need to find a way to maximise this talented forward’s skills in a position that he can call his own.

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Matt Short wants to make the T20 World Cup side for Australia next year and knows a role in the middle order is his best hope

AAP06-Nov-2025Australia allrounder Matt Short prefers opening the batting, but has revealed his best chance of playing at next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka is in the middle and lower order.The 29-year-old toured the West Indies for Australia’s underwhelming 2024 World Cup showing as a reserve player outside of the 15-man squad and did not play.The current T20 series against India, which concludes in Queensland with matches on the Gold Coast and at the Gabba, has a lot riding on it for Short.Related

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His best innings for Australia, including a dynamic 66 off 30 deliveries against South Africa in 2023, have come as an opener. However, Short, who played his first two matches of the current series at No.7, has been given a clear picture of his path to T20 World Cup inclusion by the side’s brains trust.”Personally I think I am suited to the top of the order, but having conversations with selectors and coaching staff, I think, looking forward to that T20 World Cup, I know that our top four or five is going to be pretty locked in,” Short said.”If I was to make the XI in the World Cup, I think my best chances are in the middle or lower order. We are probably using this series to see guys in different positions and looking ahead to that World Cup.”[To play at the World Cup] would be massive. I missed out on the one in the West Indies where I was a travelling reserve, but I love playing cricket for Australia no matter if it’s in the World Cup or a series like this. I am happy taking what I am getting, whether that is in the top order or through the middle.”The Adelaide Strikers captain confirmed himself as a cricketer of absolute class when he was player of the tournament in BBL 12 and BBL 13, where his powerful batting and crafty offspin stole the show.That high level of consistency was the stepping stone for Short to gain selection in both the Australian T20 and ODI sides, where he debuted in 2023.Short enjoys the ball coming onto the bat, but has set himself a goal of upping the ante when facing spinners.”There’s always ways to improve,” he said. “Looking at the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, it is probably my game against spin that probably needs a little bit of work.”Especially when you look at our squad and the power hitters we have got through the middle like Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis … guys that have had that experience in India before and have that real power game against spin.”It is obviously a challenge, and playing for Australia is not easy, so we will have to wait and see.”

Enzo Maresca has revealed why Cole Palmer missed Chelsea's latest training session and why he won't play against Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday. The 23-year-old has had an injury-hit season but did make his first start since September in the Blues' goalless draw with Bournemouth last weekend. However, it appears the Club World Cup champions are playing it safe with the playmaker.

• Chelsea being careful with Palmer

  As the Premier League season enters its fifth month, Palmer has played just six times in all competitions due to various injuries. In late September, before he spent more time on the sidelines, head coach Maresca said he was wary of rushing the England international back to action.

  "We need to protect Cole for sure, 100%. Not only Cole in my personal view because as I said now because of the Club World Cup or because we never stop, we need to manage and protect different players," the Italian said at the time. "The solution with Cole, I don’t know, now we have a meeting with the medical staff and we decide the best solution for him. But it’s also a kind of injury that is not like black and white. It’s an injury that someday you can be better. It’s not that you have pain and tomorrow disappear. Sometimes you can be better, sometimes you can be worse. That’s why we need to manage day by day."

  And ahead of facing the Italian team this week, Maresca is trying to wrap him in cotton wool.

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• AFP
  

  Maresca issues Palmer update

  Palmer played the best part of an hour against Bournemouth and after that draw, Maresca said on the ex-Manchester City man: "[He] played half an hour the other day, played one hour today. So now it's important that he can build the physical condition."

  Then, on Monday, the former Leicester City boss said Liam Delap is out injured and they are taking it easy with Palmer. 

  He told reporters: "Yeah, Liam fortunately does not have a fracture, so that is good news. And Cole is part of his process in this moment, he's not available, he can't play two games in a row in three days. So we've planned that, and it's just a way to protect him."

• Chelsea injury boosts

  Despite not being able to call on Palmer and Delap, Chelsea do have Wesley Fofana and captain Reece James available. He also addressed Joao Pedro's drop in form after four league games without a goal.

  Maresca added: "Yeah, Reece and Wes are both with us, so both are available for tomorrow's game. Then we see the first XI tomorrow. And then in terms of the No.9, we had already Liam two months out, unfortunately for him and unfortunately for us. Joao played as a No.9, Pedro Neto played as a nine, if you remember at the beginning of the season, also play as a No.9. So we try to find a solution, knowing that Liam is an important player for us because we know that he needs to play games to get fit and better and better. I think that now he was a bit better compared to when he was back from injury, but now unfortunately he's again out and we're going to try to find a solution."

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• AFP
  

  What comes next for Chelsea?

  After their test in Bergamo, Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday at home to in-form Everton. Three days later, they take on League One side Cardiff City in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has lavished praise on a Gunners who’s done something he never expected.

Arsenal look to extend unbeaten run against Brentford

Arsenal return to the Emirates tonight seeking to rebuild momentum against Brentford following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea, where Arteta’s side failed to capitalize on their one-man advantage despite playing almost an hour against ten men.

The north Londoners have also seen their five-point lead atop the Premier League table reduced to two after Man City’s thrilling 5-4 win away to Fulham on Tuesday, so nothing but a win will do against one of the worst away teams in the division this evening.

Arteta faces selection dilemmas ahead of Brentford’s visit, with defensive concerns persisting following the unexpected absence of both first-choice centre-backs at Stamford Bridge.

William Saliba suffered a training ground injury in the build up to Chelsea, compounding Gabriel Magalhaes’ absence and marking only the second occasion in 162 matches both defenders have missed simultaneously.

It could well be the third time in 163 matches against Brentford, with Saliba a doubt for tonight’s clash and Gabriel still weeks away from returning to the field.

Arsenal’s incredible unbeaten streak has now reached 17 matches across all competitions, yet Arteta demands improvements following the Chelsea stalemate. The Gunners managed just eight shots at Stamford Bridge – their lowest total in any Premier League fixture this season.

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Leandro Trossard, who’s been in excellent form with 10 goal contributions already this term, looks set to miss the Brentford game with Havertz also suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.

Mikel Arteta says Merino has took him by surprise at Arsenal

Bearing this in mind, if Arteta doesn’t start Viktor Gyokeres, then makeshift number nine Mikel Merino could well be handed another chance to impress.

The Spain international has been nothing short of extraordinary in a very unfamiliar role, scoring 20 goals this calendar year for club and country, and Arteta has now had his say on the matter.

When asked by reporters whether he thought Merino could become a striker like this, Arteta admitted the 29-year-old has taken him completely by surprise.

Merino’s equaliser ensured that Arsenal’s unbeaten streak didn’t end in west London on Sunday, and the former Newcastle star has fast become a fan favourite.

2025 has been a real year to remember for the midfielder, who was one of Edu’s final signings before his departure as sporting director late last year.

Arteta can take a lot of the credit for transforming Merino into an attacking powerhouse and having the initiative to experiment with him up front, but the versatile star has seized that opportunity with both hands.

Travis Head’s remarkable century in Perth, and his comments that it’s a role he has talked about doing, is posing a tough call for selectors

Andrew McGlashan28-Nov-20252:24

Head innings should not give England an ‘out’

Khawaja – the argument for

If Khawaja was one of the best two opening options before the first Test, then, if he has overcome the back problems, surely he still is a few days later. It was unfortunate timing to get a bad back, but he’s not the first player to suffer that. He got a very good ball from Brydon Carse in the first innings in Perth, which he could only feather to the wicketkeeper.Related

• Head 'happy' to keep opening amid Khawaja debate

• Cricket Australia to ask Khawaja for explanation of 's***' pitch comments

• Khawaja's back to be examined as Australia float flexible order

• Head feared riling England's quicks during Perth onslaught

• England are not panicking – yet

Could this be a case of being careful what you wish for? There was a clamour to move David Warner aside before he left the Test stage in early 2024, and since then, Australia have been on a merry-go-round of openers. Clearly, Khawaja does not have masses of time left as a Test cricketer, but you need to be sure before jettisoning his experience: 6055 Test runs at an average of 43.56.Since the 2023 Ashes, it has been more of a struggle for Khawaja. He averages 31.84 in this period, but he’s doing the toughest role in Test cricket. While the runs may not have flowed freely – and let’s not erase that 232 against Sri Lanka from his record, otherwise a lot of players’ performances need to be questioned – he has still been able to soak up valuable time in the middle.For example, in the West Indies earlier this year, he faced over 300 balls – and only two batters survived more in the series. If part of the aim of the top order is to take the sting out of the new ball, start to tire England’s bowlers, and lay a base for the likes of Travis Head to flourish, there’s a role Khawaja can still play.Usman Khawaja averages 50.08 in first-class cricket at the Gabba•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesIt wasn’t as though he had come into the series in poor domestic form: his scores for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield were 69, 46, 0 and 87. Another factor to consider is Khawaja has an excellent record at the Gabba, where he averages 50.08 in first-class cricket at his home ground, and, significantly, 50.20 against the pink ball.It’s also one thing playing the way Head did when there’s a final target to focus on, rather than setting up a Test on the first day or in the first innings. There is also no doubt about Head’s destructive and match-winning abilities at No. 5.There is a middle ground to this. Head could move up to open, and Khawaja could slot in at No. 5, the spot where he returned to Test cricket with twin hundreds against England at the SCG in early 2022. There is also the notion of the flexible batting order, where, for example, Khawaja could open in the first innings but perhaps not in the second, depending on the game situation.

Khawaja – the argument against

Sometimes there is a course of events that makes an irresistible case. You could easily say that happened with Head’s innings in Perth, especially when the man himself said he had been offering to take up the role since Warner’s retirement.While Head’s innings finished in a flurry of shots, some verging on outrageous, it was the early stages that set things up for him, and suggested he has the game to do it for the longer term. Head was on 3 off 14 balls at one stage, before whipping Gus Atkinson through midwicket for the first of his 16 fours; his first really adventurous shot came when he ramped Carse over the slips in the eighth over. He hadn’t just come out swinging from ball one.Travis Head flourished with a century as opener in the Perth Test•Getty ImagesThere are currently more viable candidates for middle-order roles in the Australia Test side than there are for opening. Two of them, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis, are in this squad – one who was very unlucky to lose his place in the first place, and another who has just scored a rapid century against England Lions. You can throw Mitchell Marsh into the mix as well, even before delving deeper into the Sheffield Shield.So moving Head up to the top does not have to be a case of weakening a strength to strengthen a weakness. Arguably, it is creating an opening where there are stronger options to choose from. Khawaja’s form has left the door ajar, too: one century in 45 Test innings, even when it is a double hundred, is a questionable record.The notion of Khawaja moving to the middle order? That could be seen as kicking the can down the road. Only a few weeks ago, Steve Waugh had criticised selection chair George Bailey for not taking the tough decisions.Khawaja himself knows how sliding-door moments can play out. His window to return to the Test side came when Head caught Covid-19 before the SCG Test in the 2021-22 Ashes. On that occasion, Khawaja made such a compelling case that Australia found a way to keep him in the side. Marcus Harris, who opened at the SCG and made 76 on a tough MCG pitch the game before, has not played a Test since.

The South Australia batter, who is captaining Australia A, plundered the England Lions attack

AAP06-Dec-2025Nathan McSweeney threw up his hand to be the man to replace Usman Khawaja, with a superb double century for Australia A against the England Lions.As David Warner urged selectors to return Travis Head to No. 5 and put a specialist opener alongside Jake Weatherald, McSweeney made his case on Saturday.Related

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The 26-year-old finished unbeaten on 222 in Brisbane, posting his maiden double-century as Australia A went to stumps on day two at 554 for 7 in reply to the Lions’ 166.This match is now effectively over as a contest, with the hosts leading by 388 at Allan Border Field against a Lions side fielding three frontline bowlers with Test experience.But it has come at a perfect time for McSweeney, who also hit 63 for the Prime Minister’s XI against a more experience English attack last weekend.McSweeney is a natural No. 3 or No. 4, but was given the chance to open for Australia in three Tests last year against India. He was ultimately worked over by the world’s best bowler Jasprit Bumrah, before being dropped after averaging 14.4 across six innings.But he bounced back to form with a century for South Australia in late October, and now has scores of 103, 68, 63 and 222 not out in the past six weeks.Khawaja is hopeful of being fit for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide on December 17, but it remains to be seen whether the 38-year-old will be brought back in.Head hit 33 for Australia in the first innings at the Gabba after his Perth second innings heroics as opener, but the likes of Warner believe he is still better placed at No. 5 as a rear-guard option.”I think they need a genuine opener to compliment Jake Weatherald,” Warner said on Kayo.  “Because the way Jake plays you’re probably going to be hit or miss at the top of the order with two guys who like to go after the ball. That’s Australia’s problem.”If they have a couple of innings where that does happen and they lose early wickets, that’s going to come under the microscope.”Beyond Khawaja, Matt Renshaw has hit three Sheffield Shield centuries for Queensland this year but missed out for Australia A on Friday, scoring 8.Young Victorian Campbell Kellaway has also made a sound case this summer, with his 71 against the Lions on Friday following a century for the Prime Minister’s XI last week.But Saturday was McSweeney’s time to shine, routinely pulling England’s quicks and spinners to the boundary. Batting at No.3, some 11 of his 27 boundaries came in that fashion, while he also used his feet to hit spinner Jacob Bethell for a big six down the ground.Beau Webster also cover-drove well and hit 44 for Australia A after losing out in a selection battle for the Gabba Test, while Cooper Connolly struck 88.