Stick with Khawaja on all surfaces: Warne

Nov 24, 2017 - 5:24 AM Comparisons with Ricky Ponting were not evident when Usman Khawaja again succumbed to spin in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

But Shane Warne still makes them, saying Khawaja could follow in Ponting's footsteps and master spin if selectors stuck with him at No.3 on all surfaces.

Khawaja again battled against slow bowling when he was trapped in front by Moeen Ali for 11 on day two of the Ashes opener at the Gabba.

Australia were 3-76 at tea on Friday in reply to England's 302.

Warne believes Khawaja will never master spin if he's kept in cotton wool on the subcontinent as appeared to be the case on their recent tour of Bangladesh.

Khawaja was dropped from the second Test in September "for team balance" but told by selectors he would be picked for the Ashes because of his mastery of home conditions.

But Warne says if selectors are serious about Khawaja being their No.3, they must play him on all surfaces.

And the former champion leggie says if they did, the stage would be set for Khawaja to emulate Ponting on the spin-friendly subcontinent.

"I look at Ricky Ponting who really struggled on his first tour of India, Harbhajan Singh had him in knots but he learned because he adapted," Warne said.

"Give (Khawaja) a few tours and let him learn.

"If he is good enough, he will stay there."

Warne said the perception that Khawaja could not play spin was now a reality after Ali made short work of the elegant left-hander on Friday.

"If you are batting at No.3 you've got to be able to play in all conditions," Warne said.

"He has no plan or intent to score against spin.

"He's just trying to survive and you can't do that at No.3."

Source: AAP