Travis Head awes multiple cricket legends with a stunning century in the first Test against England, offering Australia hope that he may well fill what looked like a gaping hole at the top of the batting order.<\/p>\n
Queensland opener Matt Renshaw continued his good form in the Sheffield Shield, scoring 112 against Victoria on Sunday at the Gabba in a pink-ball match.<\/p>\n
Khawaja will be assessed further after returning home to Brisbane to work out if he is even able to play in the pink-ball Test at the Gabba.<\/p>\n
“I’m not sure where he’s at, medically,” McDonald said when asked if Khawaja would play if fit.<\/p>\n
“There was discussions around further investigation to whether it was more serious than what we first anticipated.<\/p>\n
“We get to camp in six days time (in Brisbane) so it’s a long way out, a lot of information to gather between now and then.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully he’s fit and available for selection.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has had a lean run of form in the past two years. (AAP: Dave Hunt)<\/p>\n
Khawaja will turn 39 in December and has averaged 27.44 over the past two years.<\/p>\n
Not only did Khawaja make just two runs when he eventually batted on day one, he dropped a regulation catch in slips during England’s second innings that would have dismissed dangerous wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for a duck.<\/p>\n
Stream End Game with Tony Armstrong on ABC iview<\/a><\/p>\n Tony Armstrong tackles Australia’s overdue reckoning with racism in sport with the help of some of its biggest sports stars.<\/p>\n The 85-Test veteran left the field shortly after missing that chance and wasn’t spotted for the rest of the match.<\/p>\n Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg was forced to defend Khawaja after he played golf in the three days leading into the series opener.<\/p>\n Khawaja did not have an injury going into the game, but the left-hander started having back spasms only hours into day one.<\/p>\n “That back spasm took its toll in the first innings and got worse into day two, which is something that’s pretty common,” McDonald said.<\/p>\n “It’s difficult once your back starts going into spasm to get it under control.<\/p>\n “Unfortunate for him, but it opened up the opportunity for Heady to go up there and do what he did, which was amazing.”<\/p>\n Head opens in white-ball cricket, and has done the job in Tests in Asia, but Australia have been reluctant to use him there at home.<\/p>\n The classic knock, being hailed as one of the greatest in Ashes history, has given selectors plenty to think about.<\/p>\n Khawaja has gone through six different opening partners since David Warner retired from Test cricket in January 2024.<\/p>\n