Khawaja Set to Begin Ashes Build-Up in Sheffield Shield Opener Against Tasmania

Khawaja Set to Begin Ashes Build-Up in Sheffield Shield Opener Against Tasmania

Test opener Usman Khawaja will kick off his preparations for the 2025-26 Ashes series by turning out for Queensland in their Sheffield Shield season opener against Tasmania this Saturday at Allan Border Field. He will be joined by Marnus Labuschagne, who will captain the side as he continues his bid to reclaim a place in Australia’s Test XI.

Khawaja, 38, last played competitive cricket during the third Test of Australia’s Caribbean tour in July and will open the batting for Queensland, likely alongside Matthew Renshaw, another former Test batter. Labuschagne, one of the leading contenders to open with Khawaja during the Ashes, is expected to bat at No. 3 in the Shield opener.

Ashes Selection Looms

With the opening Test of the Ashes scheduled for November 21 in Perth, Australia’s selectors will be closely monitoring early Shield performances. Labuschagne, who was dropped from the Test side earlier this year, has publicly declared his focus on runs above all else as he eyes a recall.

Meanwhile, Brendan Doggett, another player on the Ashes radar, will miss South Australia’s opening Shield match against Victoria due to a minor hamstring issue. He is expected to be fit for Round 2, starting October 15. Victoria will be boosted by the inclusion of Test pacer Scott Boland.

Khawaja’s Limited Build-Up

Khawaja’s recent red-ball form has been inconsistent, with a top score of 47 in his last 10 Test innings. He is expected to play two or three Shield matches in the lead-up to the Ashes but is unlikely to feature in all four rounds. This follows a turbulent end to last season when tensions between Khawaja and Queensland high performance manager Joe Dawes became public, stemming from a disagreement over his hamstring injury and availability for the final Shield match.

Queensland Cricket, seeking a smoother lead-up this time, confirmed that they will “work with Cricket Australia and support their plans for Khawaja's individual playing preparations between now and the opening Test of the Ashes series.”

Young Talent and New Faces

Queensland’s squad also includes Hugh Weibgen, the former Australia Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, who is in line to make his first-class debut. Weibgen impressed in the early domestic season, notably with a match-winning 115 not out off 94 balls in the Dean Jones Trophy chase against Western Australia.

Hayden Kerr, the former New South Wales allrounder, is also set to make his debut for Queensland. He hasn’t played a Shield match since October 2023.

Queensland will be without several key players:

  • Xavier Bartlett is on national T20I duty in New Zealand

  • Tom Staker and Lachlan Hearne are away with Australia A in India

  • Callum Vidler (back injury) and Mark Steketee (hamstring) are unavailable

Queensland Squad for Sheffield Shield Opener vs Tasmania:

  • Marnus Labuschagne (capt)

  • Usman Khawaja

  • Matthew Renshaw

  • Hayden Kerr

  • Michael Neser

  • Jimmy Peirson

  • Mitchell Swepson

  • Gurinder Sandhu

  • Jack Wildermuth

  • Hugh Weibgen

  • Jack Clayton

  • Hugo Burdon

  • Benji Floros

The Shield opener offers an early look at Australia’s potential Ashes combinations, with Khawaja and Labuschagne both under the microscope as selectors begin shaping the side for England’s visit.