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Although the second Test begins at the Gabba on
Thursday and Usman Khawaja needs to be monitored after his head hit in the
first Test against West Indies, Australia could free Matt Renshaw to play in
the BBL Challenger on Monday and the final on Wednesday if Brisbane Heat
qualifies.
When they pulled Renshaw from the team on the second
night of the Adelaide Test so he could go to the Gold Coast for Friday night’s
BBL qualifier against the Sydney Sixers, Australia’s selectors took an unusual
risk.
Australia was left without a backup batsman at the
stadium in case they required a concussion replacement on the third day. They
were made aware of the extent of the risk when Khawaja was hit by Shamar Joseph
in the head during the second innings and had to leave the game injured.
However, Australia just needed one run to win, therefore a substitute wasn’t
necessary given the status of the match.
On Friday, Khawaja passed his initial concussion test,
and scans revealed that he had no jaw injury. In order to make sure he is not
exhibiting delayed symptoms, he must pass a second concussion test on Saturday.
In the interim, he will be observed until the second Test in Brisbane.
Nevertheless, head coach of Australia Andrew McDonald
stated that, despite the scare, the selectors are unlikely to add another
batter to the team and may release Renshaw once more so he may play for the
Heat on Monday on the Gold Coast and perhaps for Wednesday’s final in Sydney.
“I think the information that comes from Uzzy
[Khawaja] will then dictate how that sort of unfolds,” McDonald said.
“I suppose the positive for the Brisbane Heat is that the final now will
be on the east coast somewhere which makes it probably time-friendly to be able
to potentially play the final. If it was on the west coast it would be much
more difficult.
“We consider the risk when we release players and
I think it’s about 0.5% chance in terms of a concussion happening. So it was
ironic that the first time we’ve let a player go back during the Big Bash that
there was a head knock. Fortunately enough, the game was in a position where we
thought that it wasn’t going to be a higher risk than necessary. So we were
happy for Renners to go back and perform for the Heat.
“We feel as though we’ve got flexibility when we
need to be able to release players and we like seeing players play.”