InMobi

Khawaja passed fit for Thunder return

Batsman cleared after hamstring injury, now eyeing Boxing Day Test comeback

Usman Khawaja has been passed fit and will play for the Sydney Thunder in Sunday night's KFC Big Bash League match at the MCG.

Khawaja, who is desperate to return to Australia's XI on Boxing Day, has missed two Tests due to a hamstring injury, with his replacement Shaun Marsh making a fine 49 in a tense situation against New Zealand and 182 against the West Indies in Hobart.

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The BBL clash with the Melbourne Stars will be Khawaja's only match before the second Test against the West Indies starts at the MCG, but the left-hander has won support from the right circles, including National Selection Panel member Mark Waugh. 

"If Usman is fit, assuming he is, he’s got to come back in," Waugh said on Fox Sport’s Inside Cricket program this week.

"That’s not nailed down, but he has two hundreds in his last two Test matches, so you’d imagine he comes back in."

Former Test captain Ricky Ponting commented along similar lines. 

"I think Usman has to come straight back into the side and unfortunately I think it's Shaun (Marsh) that has to go back out," Ponting said a Ponting Foundation event. 

"The bottom line is Khawaja was in the best XI at the start of summer. 

"He played beautifully when he had his opportunity."

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The Thunder will also have a difficult selection decision to make with Khawaja's return after their thumping of the Sydney Sixers in last night's Sydney Smash.

Given their glut of high-class allrounders, the top-order batsman could even take the place of a bowler, most likely spinner Chris Green.