Usman Khawaja likely to be fit for first Test against India

Australia are still in the hunt to find those perfect replacements for Steve Smith and David Warner 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 Pakistan-born opener Usman Khawaja and the good news is that he is likely to recover from injury for the first Test on time.

Khawaja had a good tour of UAE

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 suffered the injury during the two-Test series in which he scored a hundred (145) and a half century. The 31-year-old left-hand batsman was picked as the Man of the Match for his valiant 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.

Australia have seen a period of turmoil of late 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 to defend his side’s unbeaten record against them in Tests at home. With his side scrambling for reliable batters, Khawaja’s inclusion will be a big boost. Khawaja, it may be noted here, is yet to play in a Test against India.

“It’s going pretty well so far, just over two weeks, ran at 100 per cent yesterday on the treadmill, hopefully, run outside tomorrow, so progressing well so far,” Khawaja was quoted as saying by Fox Sports. Media reports said the batsman will appear in the nets for a practice session later this week.

Australia will take on India, ranked No.1 in Tests, in the first of the four Tests in Adelaide from December 6. A three-match T20I series will precede the red-ball matches.

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