Khawaja cleared of jaw fracture and first concussion test after bouncer blow،
Usman Khawaja was initially cleared of concussion and broken jaw after taking a blow to the head from Shamar Joseph with just one run to win in Australia's 10-wicket win over the West Indies in Adelaide.
Khawaja lost sight of a short ball around the wicket and was hit on the right side of his jaw after the ball grazed his chest as he tried to turn his head to get out of the way. He was examined by the doctor on the ground before withdrawing injured.
Cricket Australia has confirmed he has passed an initial concussion test in the dressing room. He was sent for a CT scan to check that there was no structural damage to his jaw, and it was later confirmed that his scans were clear.
He will need to pass another concussion test on Saturday to be cleared to play in the second Test in Brisbane, which begins on January 25, with a delayed concussion remaining a possibility. If he fails, he will enter a concussion protocol period lasting between five and eight days, which would put him in serious doubt about his ability to play.
Australian captain Pat Cummins had briefly spoken to Khawaja after the victory. “It looks good,” he said. “It's a bit of a sore jaw. So yeah, [we’ll] keep an eye on him but he looks fine.
Khawaja was hit in the head on the only day Australia was without a spare batter on the ground. Australian selectors gave Matt Renshaw clearance to fly to the Gold Coast last night to take part in the Brisbane Heat's BBL qualifier against the Sydney Sixers, which meant for one of the few times in the In the era of concussion replacements in international cricket, Australia had no reserve batter. site.
Renshaw had flown on the condition that he would return on Saturday morning and that if something important happened he could have returned to Adelaide earlier.
But with the end of the game, this was no longer necessary. With Khawaja expected to be monitored in the coming days, Renshaw is next in line to play in Brisbane if he is not fit. This will affect Renshaw's availability to play in other BBL finals if Heat require it on Monday and Wednesday.
