Perth, Nov 24 (NationPress) Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald has announced that Usman Khawaja will receive a medical evaluation this week regarding the back concerns that arose during the first Ashes Test in Perth. He remains hopeful that the seasoned opener will be ready for the upcoming match set to begin on December 4 in Brisbane.

Khawaja was unable to take the crease in both innings and batted just once, while also spending a significant amount of time off the field. According to McDonald, the Australian medical team will be conducting a thorough examination since Khawaja has not previously faced back spasms of this nature.

“There have been discussions about further investigation to determine if it's more serious than what we initially thought. We will work through that and assemble a squad accordingly. We will meet for camp in six days, so there is ample time to gather information, and we hope Usman will be fit for selection,” McDonald stated.

“Any time you experience spasms, it indicates something is going on in your back. Hence, further investigation is essential. He hasn’t faced this issue before, which is why we will likely need to examine it further. My instinct is that it should be fine, but we will wait for the information to come in,” McDonald informed reporters.

He acknowledged that the selectors have “a lot to consider” following Travis Head’s remarkable century as a temporary opener during the Perth Test. Head’s scintillating score of 123 runs off 83 balls in the second innings secured a thrilling victory and has sparked discussions about potentially adjusting his place in the batting lineup.

“We have a great deal to ponder. The order of batting is often a topic of intense debate. Middle-order players are not typically the ones favored to open the batting, so we will evaluate and discuss the best approach,” he noted.

“This situation has provided us with a glimpse into the future regarding adjustments to batting orders in second innings, which is something we have deliberated. We can try different players in various positions, depending on the scenario presented.”

“This change was likely a result of chance and the unfortunate injury to Usman. However, it certainly opens up the dialogue more than ever for us,” he added.

“In one-day cricket, you often push some of your innings forward, knowing the latter stages could be challenging. Conversely, there are times when it’s tough at the beginning, and you reserve your power for the end. So, can this strategy be applied to Test cricket? Are players prepared for that?”

“This is a conversation we have had. We’ve discussed Travis opening the batting for quite some time, and he has publicly acknowledged this as well. Now that it’s been brought to light, we’re open to discussing it. Will we implement it? If the circumstances are suitable, then perhaps,” he concluded.