Khawaja back problems to be examined by Australia medical team as they tend to float idea of flexible batting order.
Khawaja and his back issues to be examined as Australia float flexible batting order.
In the run-up to the Brisbane Test, Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald stated that Usman Khawaja’s back problem will be looked at further and acknowledged that the selectors have “a lot to consider” regarding the batting order following Travis Head’s game-winning performance as a stand-in opener.
After the first Ashes Test concluded in two days in Perth, Australia’s players and staff departed for their home cities on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Khawaja was only able to bat once throughout the game and was unable to open in both innings due to back spasms, which have become a significant discussion topic. In England’s second innings, he also left the pitch after dropping a catch at slip.
“There was discussions around further investigation to whether it was more serious than what we sort of first anticipated,” McDonald said on Monday. “So we’ll work through that. We’ll get a squad together. We’ll step through everything that we normally step through.
“We get to camp in six days’ time. It’s a long way out, a lot of information to gather between now and then, and hopefully Usman is fit and available for selection.
“I think anytime you spasm, it’s a result of something going on in your back. So I think that further investigation is just due diligence around that. You spasm for a reason. He hasn’t had it before, so that’s what will probably entail a bit more further investigation.
“My gut feel is that it should be okay, but as I said, we’ll wait for that information to present.”