Usman Khawaja Injury Update: Tim Paine reveals Khawaja’s injury status ahead of first Ashes Test

Usman Khawaja Injury Update: Australian batsman had suffered an injury during the recently concluded 2019 Cricket World Cup.

During their last league stage match of the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Australia batsman Usman Khawaja had succumbed to a hamstring injury which saw him getting ruled out of the tournament.

In the nine ODIs which Khawaja played in the tournament, he scored 316 runs at an average of 35.11 and a strike rate of 88.26 including a couple of half-centuries. The southpaw might not have returned with the best of runs but he surely played several crucial knocks for his team.

With a looming Ashes series, Australia have a huge concern in Khawaja’s fitness. A vital cog in the wheel in Australia’s Test squad, Khawaja’s absence is likely to cost Australia a lot. In the last 12 months, Khawaja has scored 539 runs in eight Tests at an average of 44.91 and a strike rate of 43.12 including a couple of centuries and half-centuries each.

Usman Khawaja Injury Update

In what has come as a welcoming development for the Australian team, captain Tim Paine was recently vocal about Khawaja’s fitness. Speaking in a recent conversation with cricket.com.au, Paine expressed confidence in Khawaja playing the first Test despite not playing at all in the recent days.

“I don’t think he’s [Usman Khawaj] in serious doubt [of missing the first Ashes Test]. He’s in a rehab stage so the decision has been made that he won’t play at this stage.

“There is a possibility, maybe, if something were to happen to someone else he might be right for the back end of the game. But we expect him to be fully fit and available for selection for the first Test,” Paine was quoted as saying.

While 24 Australian cricketers will play as two teams in a warm-up match starting from tomorrow, it will provide a better idea of the combination for the first Test to commence on August 8 at Lord’s.