Usman Khawaja favourite to replace Travis Head for fourth Ashes Test

The Australia batter is set for an international recall in Sydney - but expects his return to be short-lived

Usman Khawaja is gearing up for an Australia recall more than two years on from his last international outing for the fourth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The hosts' leading run-scorer in the series Travis Head has been ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19.

Khawaja was the back-up batter in the original squad, though Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis have all been called up in light of Head's situation.

Not since the Headingley Test in 2019 has the left-hander turned out for his country but some impressive form in this season's Sheffield Shield (460 runs at 65.71) has thrust him back into the reckoning.

Cricket Australia expect Head to be available for the fifth Test in Hobart following his period of isolation. Khawaja believes his recall may be short-lived but with Test tours to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India to come later in the year another opportunity might be right around the corner.

^{Khawaja hasn't played competitively since facing England Lions (Peter Wallis/Getty Images)}

"There's a lot of cricket still to come up," he said ahead of the Test that starts on January 4. "I'm just putting my head down, making sure I'm working really hard and doing the best I can for Australia whenever I get the opportunity.

"I'll potentially have one game for Australia here, but even if that doesn't happen, I know there's still a lot of cricket on the subcontinent which I feel I'm very suited to, and which I'm looking forward to hopefully being a part of moving forward.

"I'm fit and healthy. Touch wood, the body's feeling great … I'm in the best cricket conditioning (I've been), I don't get as sore as I used to, I love it, still enjoying it, very competitive."

Khawaja averages 44.07 in Tests in Asia and is one of only three players among the current group - David Warner and Steve Smith are the others - with a much-coveted century in the sub-continent.

His 141 in Dubai, coming from 302 balls and lasting 522 minutes, helped secure a draw in the first Test against Pakistan and is regarded as one of the most resilient innings ever played. It remains the longest fourth innings knock played by an Australian Test cricketer, in terms of minutes.

^{Upcoming Test tours to the sub-continent will give Khawaja the chance to cement his place (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)}

Though first in line to replace Head, Khawaja's watching brief for the first three Tests means he won't have played for nearly a month if included in the XI in Sydney.

His last competitive outing came against England Lions in Brisbane, making just 11 and five.

"It's always nicer when you're coming off games – I haven't played for a month now – but it shouldn't take too long hopefully if I play and get out there, bat for half an hour and get into it, I should find that sync again," he maintained.

"It's one of those things where even if I do play, it'll only be for one game … I understand that situation … hopefully I can go out there and score a hundred and do well for the team in the absence of 'Heady'."

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