Ponting backs Khawaja to open in D/N Test if Warner is unfit

Ricky Ponting

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has named Usman Khawaja as his choice to open the batting in the second Ashes Test if opener David Warner is unable to play due to a rib injury.

Warner did not field on Friday, Day Three of the Test, after having suffered severe bruising to his ribs caused by two nasty blows while batting on Day Two. Warner had made an important 94 in Australia's first innings score of 425.

"If [Warner] can't play, I think it's probably Khawaja that goes in and opens the batting. Although he hasn't done it the last couple of years for Queensland, he's done it for Australia before. He's obviously in really good form, so I think that's probably the way to go," Ponting was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Warner was sent for scans on Thursday after being hit on ribs by pacer Mark Wood when he was in single digits before Ben Stokes hit him on the same spot when he was batting at 26. Though scans showed no fractures and Australia expect he will be able to bat in the second innings, Warner could be a doubt for the day-night Test at Adelaide starting from December 16 if discomfort in ribs persists.

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