• Home
  • Who Said What
  • A Lot Of Information Australia Coach Confirms Usman Khawajas Back Issue Examination

"A lot of information...": Australia coach confirms Usman Khawaja's back issue examination

Soumyajit Dutta

Usman Khawaja [Source: @DanielCherny/X]Usman Khawaja [Source: @DanielCherny/X]

Australia coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed that there will be an investigation for Usman Khawaja's recurring back issue that leads up to the Brisbane Test and also was a point of concern in the Perth Test as well. 

As the coach shared elaborate details on Khawaja's injury, he also pointed out that in his lengthy career, Khawaja never suffered from an injury of that level, which certainly keeps things afloat for the top-order. 

McDonald believes Khawaja will be fit to play

Speaking to the reporters, Andrew McDonald confirmed that the medical staff would be looking into Usman Khawaja's back spasm as it might add to the woes ahead of the second Test which commences in a span of 10 days. 

"There was discussions around further investigation to whether it was more serious than what we sort of first anticipated. So we'll work through that. We'll get a squad together. We'll step through everything that we normally step through," McDonald said on Monday.

Speaking of the floating nature of the batting order where Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne opened in the first innings and Travis Head and Weatherald continued in the second, McDonald informed that there will be discussions about the 38-year-old's position after they get back in the camp. 

"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," McDonald added.

Notably, McDonald dismissed Khawaja's age as a reason for the back issue while many critics pointed out Khawaja's 18 holes of golf on each of the three days leading into the Test match, as a solid reason of inflammation. McDonald negated the words saying that these issues are irrelevant and one cannot just join the dots to find the reason for his back spasm. 

"These things can happen. And I don't think you can join the dots to something around his age. I think it's just one of those things that's happened," McDonald added.

Flexible top-order to continue?

McDonald was further asked whether Head could be at the top after his heroic ton and if it is a permanent solution for Australia in the top order, however, McDonald shared a neutral view on that thought. 

"We've got a lot to consider. Batting orders are always debated heavily over a period of time. Middle order players haven't been sort of the ones that have been the popular ones to open the batting. So we'll discuss and work through what it looks like," McDonald concluded.

Nevertheless, Australia's players and staff flew back to their home cities on Sunday after the Ashes opener concluded within just two days. 

With a significant time frame available for them to return, the players will be back six days before the second day-night Test at Brisbane takes place on December 4.