Uzzie done? Tubby 'not a great believer' in sentimental picks

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor says leaving out Usman Khawaja for the Adelaide Test was "very tough" on the veteran but "the right call".

He also implored selectors to ensure "the team is first and foremost", amid speculation Khawaja may be given a farewell Test at the SCG if Australia has wrapped up the Ashes series.

Khawaja has recovered from the back spasms that hampered him in Perth and ruled him out of the Gabba Test, but selectors chose to stick with Jake Weatherald and Travis Head for the Adelaide Test, beginning on Wednesday.

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Selectors also opted against picking Khawaja as a middle-order batter, instead keeping faith in Josh Inglis.

Khawaja, who turns 39 on day two of the Adelaide Test, has given no indication a retirement call is imminent.

"A very tough call. No doubt about that. But look, to be honest, I think it is the right call," Taylor said on 2GB's Wide World of Sports on Tuesday night.

"I said before this series started that England's best chance was to keep the narrative going around the top order.

"By chance, Travis Head [is now partnering] with Jake Weatherald, and they've done a very good job. I think it would have been very tough to split those two up, so they haven't done that.

"The other option was to [say], 'OK, do we put him in the middle order and maybe move Josh Inglis out?' But they've gone for a bit of youth, which is probably a 50/50 call to leave out an 85-Test veteran for a guy who's only played a handful of games. But once again, I think that's a call probably for the future.

"It's very tough on Usman. But ... I think when you're going well you're better off making tough calls, because it then sets the standard for what you do going forward."https://omny.fm/shows/wide-world-of-sports/its-the-right-call-why-mark-taylor-is-backing-australias-khawaja-call-for-third-ashes-test/embed?size=Wide

Taylor said there was a "possibility" Khawaja had played his final Test but admitted "you never know".

"There's always injuries," he said.

"I know Usman will go back and keep himself ready and willing to play for when and if a spot becomes available."

But Taylor indicated he was against the idea of Khawaja being given a farewell Test at the SCG, which was his home venue before his move from the NSW Blues to the Queensland Bulls.

It's likely the Australians, who are up 2-0 leading into the Adelaide Test, will arrive in Sydney with the series wrapped up.

"I've always believed that you just make yourself available, you do your best, and then you leave it to the selectors to either pick you or [not]," Taylor said.

"At the end of my last Test, which was against the Poms 26 years ago, I knew I was getting towards the end, but I just played the game. After ... I think I made 2 in both innings of my last Test match, I knew I was done. But I didn't feel like I needed to say goodbye.

"I'd had a great run, as Usman [has] in Test match cricket.

"So I'm not a great believer in all that sort of stuff.

"I think we've got to make sure that the team is first and foremost. If you do that, it's up to the individual then to make sure you're picked for your final game.

"That might be Usman in Sydney. I don't know, but we'll find out."

Australia's XI for Adelaide Test

1. Travis Head 2. Jake Weatherald 3. Marnus Labuschagne 4. Steve Smith 5.Cameron Green 6. Alex Carey (wk) 7. Josh Inglis 8. Pat Cummins (c) 9. Mitchell Starc 10. Nathan Lyon 11. Scott Boland