David Warner’s friendship with Usman Khawaja extends back decades, and a picture of them in cricket whites as kids has gone viral.
Welcome to our love coverage of day one of the fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England in Hobart.
It’s set to be a historic fixture for Tasmanian cricket fans — this will be Hobart’s first Ashes Test and first international pink-ball match.
The Aussies were unable to claim victory at the SCG last week, but although the whitewash dream is over, Pat Cummins and Co. will be hoping to secure a 4-0 Ashes triumph at Blundstone Arena.
Meanwhile, England is still searching for its first Test win on Australia soil since January 2011 — the Poms have not tasted victory in 14 consecutive Tests Down Under.
The first ball is scheduled for 3pm AEDT, but rain is threatening to once again cause headaches in the Tasmanian capital.
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Adorable 28-year cricket snap goes viral
Marcus Harris will not feature in the series finale, with Usman Khawaja set to open the batting alongside childhood mate David Warner.
Khawaja has opened the batting on seven occasions at Test level, scoring 484 runs at 96.80, including two centuries and two fifties.
The Queensland captain and Warner have scored 1348 Test runs at the crease together, boasting an average partnership of 53.92.
The Khawaja-Warner bonds extends back 28 years, with the duo playing alongside each other at junior level.
On Thursday evening, Warner posted an adorable image of himself and Khawaja in cricket whites from when they were kids.
“The 90s just seemed way easier,” Warner captioned the photo.
Warner’s wife Candice commented: “What a journey you have both been on to get to where you are. Enjoy the moment and walk out there for those two little boys who used to hit balls against the wall at Waverley Oval.”
Former Australian batter Matthew Hayden replied: “Now that is a priceless pic.”
Khawaja’s wife Rachel responded: “This is too good.”
The post received more than 343,000 likes in 15 hours.
Former Australian U19 assistant coach Matthew Mott, who mentored the pair as teenagers, told The Daily Telegraph: “They both really call it how they see it. Davey will admit he’s quite brash in his openness about how honest he is. If Uzzie is ever asked what he thinks, he won’t say what’s popular, he’ll say what he thinks is right.
“And they’re both really good family men. Having just been down in that (Australian team) bubble, seeing them with their young families that was pretty cool. They’re very good fathers and very good husbands and they’ve got a very strong sense of family.”
Although Harris has been axed from the starting XI, Cummins is adamant the Victorian’s Test career isn’t over.
“The message to Harry is we think he’s going really well. It’s really tough on him,” he told reporters at Blundstone Arena on Thursday.
“Uzzie and Davey have really earned that spot to open the batting, but the reality is they’re both 35 years old.
“While that doesn’t mean anything in the short-term, there will be a day when we need to find some other openers.
“Marcus still absolutely has got a huge future with us. He’ll be, I’m sure around the squad.
“There might even be an Aussie A squad going overseas in the off-season; there will be Shield cricket, county cricket, lots of opportunities.
“This is probably more of a case of someone demanding a spot rather than Marcus losing a spot due to form.
“It’s not too often someone comes in and hits two hundreds in the same game.”
Originally published as Fifth Ashes Test live scores, updates, Hobart weather
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