Australia coach Andrew McDonald has backed hard-pressed opener Usman Khawaja to return to form after an underwhelming start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With a track that could allow him to play his strokes freer and a fresh opening partner in Sam Konstas, McDonald is confident Khawaja can get back to scoring bulk runs.
Having failed to fire in the first three matches against India, Khawaja is in a lean trot of form.
Andrew McDonald talks with Usman Khawaja during a training session in Perth. Paul Kane via Getty Images
The veteran turned 28 years old last Wednesday and despite flourishing alongside David Warner at the top of the order in previous summers, no longer appears to be indispensable for the Australian side.
Khawaja has scored just 55 runs across the opening three Tests and has reached 50 in only one of his past 17 innings for the national team.
Asked about Khawaja's struggle for form heading into the Boxing Day Test, McDonald was nonchalant.
"I think he's fine," he told media.
"Usman's not a concern.
"I think the way he's preparing [and] the way he's going about his work, the runs will come.
Usman Khawaja walks off the field after being dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah during the first Test. Cameron Spencer via Getty Images
"I think anyone that knows batting, and batting in recent times has been difficult with ball dominating bat, so, his method is clear, the way he is preparing is clear and good players always return to the runs and I'm sure that will be the case over the next couple of Test matches."
In the first three Test, Australia's batting lineup has been inconsistent with mixed results out in the middle. This has placed a heavy reliance on the side's pacemen.
"Both batting lineups have struggled [and] I think that's a credit to both bowling lineups," McDonald said.
"The surfaces have probably also lent themselves to ball dominating the bat [in this series]. That's no different to the previous summers we've had here.
"India's got a dangerous batting lineup but I think there'll be a recalibration somewhere in the next couple of Test matches for both batting lineups."
With the series tied 1-1, the first ball of the Boxing Day Test is scheduled for 10:30am AEDT on Thursday, December 26.
