Australia's biggest decision is to stick or smash

Head's extraordinary century in Perth and Khawaja's bad back make strong case for stand-in opener to lead again

- Geoff Lemon

Accidents do not come much happier. Usman Khawaja's mid-game back problem was annoying for the player and potentially damaging for his team, until it wasn't.

Clearing out the regular dry-powder opener created space in the final stanza of the Perth Test, allowing Travis Head to finish off England with the gory certainty and splatter count of a Mortal Kombat fatality move. Sometimes you mash the buttons and it all just works.

Consider an Ashes innings of 123 from 83 balls, on a bouncy pitch where two other players nudged 50, in an effort that did not just win the match, but has sent the opposition into a demoralising tailspin. So the fortuitous success creates a quandary about what to do next.

Khawaja may not be passed fit for the second Test, but if he is should that be enough to reassure selectors his injury will not recur? And even if they believe he is ready should that be enough reason to retain him?

During two years of uncertainty about Australia's permanent opener, Head has been a regular suggestion from some quarters.