Usman Khawaja's Participation In The Gabba Test Still In Doubt As Fresh Medical Reports Emerge A Day After The 1st Test
Usman Khawaja will require more concussion tests in the coming days before he is declared fit to feature for Australia in the second Test against West Indies which is scheduled to begin on Thursday at The Gabba in Brisbane. He scored 45 off 111 deliveries in the first innings and then in the second innings was retired hurt on nine runs when Australia required just one run to win the Test.
Usman Khawaja was blown away from a jaw-breaking hit by a bouncer from impressive debutant Shamar Joseph with Australia requiring just one run to win on Friday. Marnus Labuschagne scored the winning runs for Australia after Khawaja retired hurt just two deliveries before the winning run was scored. Usman Khawaja cleared the initial concussion test on the ground and later went through the scans which cleared him of a fractured jaw. However, Cricket Australia protocols require regular examinations in case of delayed concussion.
“He had a check-in today and all is fine,” a Cricket Australia spokesman said on Saturday. “He will have more tests in the next few days.” Andrew McDonald said he was “hopeful that he will be OK [to play].”
Usman Khawaja’s Concussion Substitute Went To Play A BBL Game
Australia was fortunate that Usman Khawaja’s injury was so late in the game and not as serious as first feared because Australia’s concussion substitute Matthew Renshaw was released from the squad to feature in the Big Bash League (BBL) Qualifier for Brisbane Heat playing against Sydney Sixers. Matthew Renshaw scored 16(10) in the qualifiers against Sydney Sixers. Brisbane Heat lost the game and will now play the Challenger round.
Australia will be facing West Indies in the second Test at The Gabba in Brisbane starting from January 25, Thursday. They are currently on the top of the WTC points table and are also the defending WTC champions. Usman Khawaja is likely to play in the second Test as his injury is not very serious and the scans have also ruled out the possibility of a fracture which means a delayed concussion is the only thing that can stop Khawaja from playing in the second Test.
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Andrew Mcdonald AUS vs WI 2024 Australia National Cricket Team Matthew Renshaw Shamar Joseph Usman Khawaja West Indies National Cricket Team