Tim Paine Backs Khawaja and Labuschagne Amidst Selection Scrutiny

Former Australian cricket captain Tim Paine has come to the defense of embattled top-order batsmen Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne. Following their subpar performance in the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa, both players have faced scrutiny, yet Paine insists they remain crucial to Australia's future success.

Despite a rare failure by Khawaja, who topped the scoring charts in the WTC cycle 2023-25, and Labuschagne's underwhelming performance, Paine believes they should not be swiftly replaced. He highlights the challenge of finding quality replacements, using the retirement of David Warner as a cautionary tale.

With an upcoming West Indies tour and the Ashes series on the horizon, selections are in the spotlight. Although Steve Smith's injury forces some adjustments, Paine is confident that Khawaja and Labuschagne will be instrumental in Australia's cricketing endeavors. Their experience and class, Paine argues, are irreplaceable assets.

(With inputs from agencies.)