In an overwhelming first Test between Australia and the West Indies in Adelaide, Aussie opener Usman Khawaja faced a tense moment when he was struck on the head by West Indian debutant pacer Shamar Joseph. The incident occurred just as Australia needed one more run to secure victory.
Fortunately, Khawaja, who took a hit on the right side of his jaw from a short ball, emerged without serious injury or concussion.
A nasty moment as Usman Khawaja is hit on the chin by a Shamar Joseph short ball #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/nF5nFqxgJJ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2024
The on-field doctor quickly assessed Khawaja, and he temporarily retired from the game. Cricket Australia reported that he passed the initial concussion test in the dressing room, and scans revealed no damage to his jaw. However, to ensure his readiness for the second Test in Brisbane starting on January 25, Khawaja will undergo another concussion test on Saturday.
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, briefly addressed Khawaja’s condition in the post-match presentation, stating, “He seems okay, it’s a little bit of a sore jaw. So yeah, [we’ll] monitor it, but he seems okay.”
Despite the unsettling incident, Australia secured a commanding 10-wicket victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Adding to the Australian triumph was the exceptional performance of fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. His precise and skillful seam bowling played a pivotal role as he finished with impressive figures of 5-35 in the second innings, initially reaching 4-2 at one point.
Australia, having led by 95 runs in the first innings, efficiently wrapped up the West Indies for just 120 runs in the morning session. Subsequently, they effortlessly chased down the target of 26 runs in 6.4 overs without losing any wickets, underscoring their dominance in the opening Test.
While the victory sets a positive tone for Australia, the cricketing world awaits updates on Usman Khawaja’s fitness ahead of the second Test, where both teams will compete for superiority in Brisbane.
