Usman Khawaja is in danger of missing his home Test at the Gabba after being forced to retire hurt during Australia’s 10-wicket victory in the first Test against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval.
Australia needed just one run to complete the easy win before lunch on the third day when Khawaja was struck a nasty blow on the jaw by debutant pace bowler Shamar Joseph.
The veteran left-hander ducked into a delivery which failed to raise as he expected and then walked away from the pitch after the blow spitting blood. He was examined on the field by Cricket Australia medical staff and then left the ground. Marnus Labuschagne hit the winning run.
Khawaja passed his concussion tests post-play and will have another test in the next 24 hours. He left the ground after the Test match to go to hospital for precautionary scans on his jaw.
“He seemed OK, just a little bit of a sore jaw,” Australia’s captain Pat Cummins said of Khawaja. “So we’ll monitor it, but he seemed OK.”
Under Cricket Australia protocols, if a player is diagnosed with concussion he is automatically ruled out of any match for seven days. This would prevent Khawaja from playing in Brisbane, with the match scheduled to start on Thursday.
His place would be taken by concussion sub and Queensland teammate Matthew Renshaw, who was a controversial selection as 13th man in this Test ahead of West Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, who has dominated the Sheffield Shield for a season and a half.
Bancroft may now get the chance to reunite with his former Australian teammates as the concussion sub for the Brisbane Test if Khawaja is deemed not to be fit.
“Unfortunate – he bit his tongue as well,” West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said. “But let’s hope he’s OK, no one wants to see a guy get injured playing this game that we love.”
Australia wrapped up the Test match in an hour on the third morning, claiming the last four West Indian wickets for just 27 runs after the tourists were bowled out for 120.
Josh Hazlewood continued his ever-improving summer, finishing with 5-35 to claim nine wickets for the Test. Travis Head was named player of the match for his 119 on a pitch where runs were difficult to come by.
More to come
