Australian opener Usman Khawaja faces an uncertain future in the Ashes series as he continues to battle a back injury that flared up during the first Test in Perth, casting serious doubt over his availability for the crucial second Test at Brisbane's Gabba.
Coach Andrew McDonald has failed to guarantee the 38-year-old's selection even if he proves medically fit, creating significant speculation around Australia's batting lineup for the day-night encounter starting December 4th.
Injury Concerns and Selection Dilemma
Khawaja suffered back spasms during the series opener that forced him to leave the field on day two and raised concerns about the severity of the issue. The veteran batsman will undergo further assessment in Brisbane to determine whether the problem is more serious than initially anticipated.
McDonald revealed the uncertainty surrounding Khawaja's position, stating medical staff need to gather more information before making a final decision. "I'm not sure where he's at, medically," McDonald admitted. "There was discussion around further investigation to whether it was more serious than what we first anticipated."
Head Seizes Opportunity in Spectacular Fashion
The injury crisis has created a silver lining for Australia in the form of Travis Head's spectacular performance. Stepping up to open alongside debutant Jake Weatherald in Khawaja's absence, Head blasted a magnificent 123 runs in what many are calling an all-time Ashes innings.
His stunning knock has immediately sparked calls for the middle-order batsman to permanently move to the opening position, putting additional pressure on Khawaja's already precarious position in the team.
Khawaja's recent form has been concerning, with the opener averaging just 27.44 over the past two years. His difficulties extended beyond batting in Perth, where he dropped a regulation catch in slips that would have dismissed England's dangerous wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for a duck.
Bowling Department Updates
Meanwhile, in Australia's bowling camp, Josh Hazlewood appears unlikely to feature at the Gabba as he continues recovery from a hamstring injury. However, McDonald denied speculation that the star quick would miss the entire series, indicating Hazlewood is expected to take "some part" in the remaining matches.
Captain Pat Cummins is making a strong case to return for the second Test, while Mitchell Starc's ten-wicket haul in Perth has cemented his position. The performance of debutant Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland's second-innings recovery has given selectors multiple options.
McDonald emphasised the importance of not rushing Cummins back prematurely, noting "if you were to rush at something and lose Patty, because you're one-nil down, then makes the series a lot more difficult."
The coach also addressed speculation about Nathan Lyon's role in the pink-ball Test, traditionally dominated by pace bowling. "If you looked at Australian pink-ball cricket in general terms, the middle sessions have been quite benign, and Nathan's done a lot of work there," McDonald explained, suggesting they wouldn't automatically assume a pace-dominated game.
