Usman Khawaja overlooked as Pat Cummins names his XI for the third Test against Ben Stokes and England at Adelaide Oval

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“It seems reasonable for now, [but] This may change. [Head] “Every game you have this week you can look at what the next week needs, but there’s a lot of flexibility in our squad with the current squad.”

Head, who had previously stated that he was willing to start the batting in Australia if the team needed it, changed his rhetoric to a more decisive move for the position after Khawaja’s back problem created an opportunity in Perth.

“I think what you say publicly is always a little bit different than what you say privately,” Cummins said. “If someone is nominating a place, that means someone else is missing out. Trav is a great team man and vice-captain, so he never wants to step on toes.

“He’s always very determined to do whatever the team needs and we think that’s been the case for the last few years.” [batting at] No.5 and gladly did so. He was always throwing it out there; We’ve had a few openings over the last few years and he said, ‘If you need me, I’d be happy to do it.’

“But I think when he was running and demanding at Perth Stadium he said, ‘I think it’s my time, I think it’s mine’ and we said, ‘Go for it’ and that was probably the first time it wasn’t an issue, he really wants it and thinks it’s his opportunity.”

At the same time, Cummins made it clear that Khawaja could have a way back into the team if circumstances change.

“The selectors were pretty adamant that we pick a side every week. [and it] That doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be exactly the same team as last week,” Cummins said. “We do that with the bowlers.

“Nathan Lyon is returning this week. One of Uzzy’s strengths is that he can score points up top and he can score points in the middle. He wouldn’t be in the lineup here if we didn’t think he would be good enough to step right in. So I can definitely see his way back at some point if necessary.”

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Lyon and Cummins will return to the bowling attack in place of Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser. Cummins’ recall will make his first appearance in cricket since the West Indies tour in July; Here he experienced discomfort for the first time and it turned out to be a back stress injury.

“[I’m] It’s good to go. “I’ve been bowling 100 per cent for a while now,” Cummins said. “If I was playing in Brisbane I’d probably get limited overs but this week I’ll go and play like any other Test match.”

Cummins, who watched the first two Tests from the sidelines, expressed confidence that the Australian attack could continue to encourage England’s Bazballers to make mistakes outside off stump.

“That’s your hope, that the players come here and you can rob them like we did,” he said. “[I] I don’t know if it’s really surprising.

“Like any show you have to adapt and I’m sure they’ll come up with different plans and methods for this game and we’ll try to adapt to that but it’s been pretty good watching so far.”

The third Test kicks off at 10.30am (AEDT) on Wednesday at Adelaide Oval.