Ever since the ban of their crucial cogs, Steve Smith and David Warner, the search of Australia for their apt replacement is yet to be finished and especially with a challenging Test series coming up against India at home, the hosts will be eager to make use of the resources in hand. One of those batsmen who the Baggy Greens are looking forward to is Usman Khawaja and the good news is that he is likely to recover from injury ahead of the first Test in Adelaide.
Khawaja, who has played 35 Tests and was in good form in his side’s latest Test series against Pakistan in the UAE, had a surgery recently for a torn meniscus. He sustained the injury during the two-Test series in which he scored a century (145) and a half century. The southpaw batsman was adjudged as the Man of the Match for his match-winning effort with the bat to draw the first Test in Dubai and could bat only once in the second match which Australia lost by 373 runs and also the series 0-1.
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Australia has faced a rough time recently as they have lost a number of series – the latest being an ODI series against South Africa – and the upcoming India series will be a big test for Tim Paine and his men to defend his side’s unbeaten record against the visitors in Tests at home. With his team lacking in quality batting, Khawaja’s inclusion will be a big boost. Khawaja, it may be noted here, is yet to play in a Test against India.
As per the reports in Fox Sports, talking about his fitness, Khawaja said, “It’s going pretty well so far, just over two weeks, ran at 100 percent yesterday on the treadmill, hopefully, run outside tomorrow, so progressing well so far.”
Media reports said the Khawaja will appear in the nets for a practice session later this week. Australia will take on India in the first of the four Tests in Adelaide from December 6. A three-match T20I series will precede the red-ball matches.
