Australian cricket selectors face a major dilemma ahead of the second Ashes Test, with veteran opener Usman Khawaja no longer guaranteed his spot even if declared fully fit.
Selection Headache After Perth Drama
The 38-year-old batsman struggled with back spasms during the series opener in Perth, forcing him to bat at number four in the first innings before being ruled out entirely during Australia's stunning day two run chase.
Stepping into the breach, Travis Head delivered what's being hailed as one of the greatest Ashes innings of all time, smashing a blazing 123 in his first experience opening in a Test match on home soil.
Khawaja will undergo further assessment after returning to Brisbane to determine whether he can even participate in the pink-ball Test at his home ground, the Gabba.
Coach McDonald's Non-Committal Stance
When pressed on whether Khawaja would automatically return if fit, coach Andrew McDonald offered a notably cautious response. "I'm not sure where he's at, medically," McDonald stated on Monday.
"There was discussions around further investigation to whether it was more serious than what we first anticipated. We get to camp in six days time so it's a long way out, a lot of information to gather between now and then. Hopefully he's fit and available for selection."
The selection controversy comes amid concerning form for the experienced batsman. Khawaja averages just 27.44 over the past two years and managed only two runs in his solitary innings in Perth before leaving the field with injury.
His difficulties were compounded by dropping a regulation catch in the slips during England's second innings that would have dismissed wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for a duck.
Broader Team Considerations
The situation has been complicated by questions around Khawaja's preparation after Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg defended the opener's decision to play golf in the three days leading into the first Test.
While Khawaja entered the match without injury, he began experiencing back spasms only hours into day one. "That back spasm took its toll in the first innings and got worse into day two," McDonald explained. "It's difficult once your back starts going into spasm to get it under control."
Meanwhile, the bowling department presents its own challenges. Josh Hazlewood appears unlikely to feature at the Gabba as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the first Test, though McDonald denied the issue would sideline him for the entire series.
Captain Pat Cummins is making strong progress towards returning for the second Test beginning on December 4, creating additional selection pressure after Mitchell Starc's ten-wicket haul in Perth and impressive debuts from other bowlers.
Even veteran spinner Nathan Lyon could face omission for the pink-ball encounter, traditionally dominated by pace bowling, despite McDonald's caution against making assumptions about pitch conditions.
