Image: IND vs AUS Ahmedabad Test LIVE: Australia sweating on Usman Khawaja injury as India eye win on FINAL day.
Khawaja’s Injury Blow Rocks Aussies in the fourth Test:Australia’s chances of drawing the fourth and final Test match against India have been put in jeopardy following the injury of Usman Khawaja. Khawaja, who scored a superb 180 in the first innings, is suffering from soreness in his lower left leg and will need to undergo a fitness test before he is allowed to bat. There are fears that he may not be able to play, which would be a significant blow to Australia’s chances of saving the Test match. The team may have to bat one man down in order to avoid defeat.
Khawaja’s Leg Injury would be a serious concern
During the 148th over of the game, Khawaja jarred his left knee while attempting to take a boundary catch offered by Axar Patel. He was taken for an MRI after play but there was no indication of a break. News Corp Australia confirmed that he is still complaining of soreness to the lower left leg and will need to do a fitness test if he is to bat. Khawaja is going to bat in the nets to see if he can play.
Image:Usman Khawaja pulled off a stunning catch despite having been sidelined with an injury. Credit: Getty/Fox Sports
Australia’s Chances of Drawing the Test Match
Khawaja’s absence would be a significant loss to Australia’s chances of saving the Test match. The team may have to bat one man down to avoid defeat as they are currently 88 runs behind India. In addition, runners are no longer allowed in international cricket, so even if Khawaja does bat, he may be impeded in some way. Australia will need to dig deep after two long days in the field where centuries from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, alongside another valuable hand from Axar, built India a 91-run lead.
Australia’s Bowling Struggles
It was another tough day for Australia’s quicks with Mitchell Starc picking up their lone success when he speared one through Axar. Cameron Green was expensive, getting taken for 21 off an over shortly after lunch when he briefly attempted to implement a short-ball plan to Bharat who repeatedly pulled him over the short leg-side boundary.
With Australia’s bowling potentially done for the series, it won’t be one their quicks will remember fondly. The combination of Starc, Green, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland have five wickets to show for their efforts. The pace-bowling average of 77.80 places it as the fourth-most expensive series for a cohort of Australian quicks. In comparison, India’s quicks have taken their 13 wickets at 33.53.
Kuhnemann comes out to open as a backup
Matt Kuhnemann, who bowled 25 overs of off-break during India’s first innings, came out to open as the Australian team manager informed that regular opener Usman Khawaja had sustained an injury on his shin and couldn’t come out to bat.
“A left-handed Queenslander like Uzzy (Khawaja),” Carey joked.
“He put his hand up straight away and did a fantastic job. Probably wasn’t his day for the ball. But, yeah, all the guys would definitely get around him tonight for putting his hand up.”
“It’s a tough task going out and facing that new ball against Indian spinners, so he did a fantastic job with Travis (Head) but obviously the night-watchman came into play with 20 minutes to go, so send them out,” he said.
