Usman Khawaja will face a fitness test later this week which will determine his chances of returning to the Test arena on Boxing Day.
The 28-year-old was due to return from a hamstring injury in Thursday night’s opening Big Bash League match for the Sydney Thunder. However Cricket Australia medical staff have ruled him out of the clash against cross-city rivals the Sixers.
Khawaja will now need to prove his fitness before Sunday’s match with the Melbourne Stars, which also acts as the only remaining fixture before the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies at the MCG.
If he fails that test, selectors will be spared the difficult decision of trying to slot Khawaja back into the Australian team at the expense of either Joe Burns or Shaun Marsh.
Khawaja has not played since injuring his hamstring in the second Test against New Zealand at the Waca Ground, and Australian coach Darren Lehmann is not willing to risk him without any previous game-time.
“We certainly need him playing and with the hamstring we don’t want him playing Test match cricket if he’s not fully fit,” Lehmann said after Australia’s defeat of the West Indies in Hobart.
“He will have to be sharp in those Big Bash League T20 games he’s playing and get through those – then we’ll make a decision from there.”
Khawaja was a key member of Australia’s top order against New Zealand, smashing centuries at the Gabba and Waca before being ruled out with the injury.
Australian captain Steve Smith is also battling a knee injury in the lead up to the MCG Test, and has been ruled out of the Sixers’ opening two BBL matches. He is expected to be fit for the Boxing Day Test.
