Usman Khawaja in doubt for Brisbane Test against West Indies following scans

Australia has just replaced one opener in David Warner, but it may be forced to replace a second in Brisbane after Usman Khawaja was struck by a bouncer in the dying minutes of the Adelaide Test.

Usman Khawaja has been cleared of a fracture but is not yet fully in the clear for the Brisbane Test after being forced to retire hurt when struck by a bouncer in the closing stages of Australia’s Adelaide Oval romp.

The opener was taken for scans after being struck on the jaw by a short ball from West Indies pace sensation Shamar Joseph on Friday morning with Australia one run away from victory.

Having been assessed by team medical staff, Khawaja came off the ground, leaving Marnus Labuschagne to secure a 10-wicket win with the winning run, ensuring Australia will hold the Frank Worrell Trophy for more than 30 consecutive years.

Khawaja passed his initial concussion test and was later found to have dodged any fractures, however the veteran is not out of the woods yet given he will continue to be monitored for delayed concussion symptoms.

“He seems OK, just a little bit of a sore jaw so monitor it,” Australian captain Pat Cummins said post-match of Khawaja’s condition.

Usman Khawaja retires walking off the Adelaide Oval after being struck by a bouncer in the dying moments. Picture: Izhar Khan / AFP.

The second Test in Brisbane, a day-night match, begins next Thursday, meaning Khawaja would likely be ruled out under Cricket Australia’s concussion protocols in the event he is found to have been concussed.

Australia’s spare batter Matt Renshaw wasn’t even in the state when Khawaja was struck, having been cleared to fly to the Gold Coast to play in the Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash League final on Friday night.

A remarkably healthy crowd of 16,991 flocked to Adelaide Oval to watch Australia finish the Windies off within the first session of the day.

Joseph’s fearless hitting ensured Australia had 26 to chase, but Josh Hazlewood picked up the wicket of Gudakesh Motie for three to secure a five-wicket haul, finishing with career-best match figures of 9-79.

It continued a fruitful start to the year for Hazlewood, who has put a turbulent few years injury-wise behind him to play all four Tests so far this summer, alongside longtime partners-in-crime Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.

It is rare for an Australian pace line-up to get through an entire home season unchanged, but that is likely to be the case given the quicks made light work of Pakistan and even lighter work of the Windies, aided by pitches where ball has consistently had the better of the bat.

Usman Khawaja being struck by a well-directed bouncer from Shamar Joseph. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

It’s conceivable too that Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood could also play both Tests in New Zealand, a series that begins last month, making it seven each inside three months and consigning Scott Boland to a full season carrying the drinks.

“It’s trending that way,” Cummins said.

“Again, always give it a day or two to see everyone pulls up but think everyone’s in a good spot. So I’d say chances are we’ll line up again next week. So yeah, at the start of the summer didn’t think it was going to be the case but it’s shaping up that way. Which is a huge nod to I guess the fitness of the guys and the medical team and a couple of helpful wickets.”

Cummins said trickier batting conditions in Australia in recent summer meant innings like Travis Head’s century on day two deserved more credit.

“It’s been like this for the last four or five summers really. It’s been hard work a lot of the time so you know makes the hundreds and the guys averaging 40-50 look even I think more impressive. Knowing that even when you’re in you still might have a ball with your name on it. So we don’t really hold too many expectations to be honest, it’s about trying to win and get as many runs as we can. So in terms of averages or those kinds of things. Doesn’t really matter.”