Australia ponder best fit for Khawaja

It's been an eventful six days for the unflappable Usman Khawaja, but the left-hander still doesn't know if he's done enough to make Australia's first World Cup XI.

Last Wednesday, he had to retire hurt after being struck on the side of the head by an Andre Russell delivery that reared off a length. While the grille of his helmet only partially protected him from the blow, Australia's fears were averted when scans revealed no fracture in his jaw bone.

On Saturday, to much surprise, Khawaja batted at No.5 for Australia, and made 31 from 38 balls having never having batted that low in his international limited-overs career.

Last night he was struck on the left knee, the same one he's twice had surgery on, by the ball while fielding against Sri Lanka. For the second time in less than a week, he was escorted off the ground by the team doctor.

Hardly more than an hour later, Khawaja had overcome the blow and was back out in the middle. Batting without any obvious impairment, he posted 89 from 105 balls, his highest score in the recent run of World Cup warm-up games, to guide Australia to a five-wicket win in their final tune-up before their tournament proper begins this weekend.

Image Id: 69EBFFAD20B04E8F90E4915D10A0C8B4 Image Caption: Khawaja hit three fours in his 105-ball 89 // Getty

"It's fine, embarrassing more than anything," said Khawaja, with ice strapped his knee. "It just hit the side of my knee and I couldn't put any weight on it.

"I'd try to get up, Gaz (Nathan Lyon) was telling me to just lie down, but I was saying, 'I'm not going to lie down, I'm going to get up'. But I'd try to get up and I couldn't.

"My knee collapsed underneath me because of where it hit, I went off, iced it and after about 25 minutes I felt all right.

"It's a bit sore now but nothing structurally wrong.

Image Id: 0D0426578C764224A3631AACAB07DD0D Image Caption: Lyon with Khawaja after the knee blow // Getty

"When I was walking off I was laughing, I was in pain but I knew there was nothing serious about it. It was the same knee I had a 'reco' (reconstruction) on so we were a bit careful … hopefully that's the last of it."

No batsman has scored more ODI runs in 2019 than Khawaja, but he knows better than most nothing is assured.

David Warner sat out the Sri Lanka game with a glute niggle, but is not in any doubt for Australia's tournament opener against Afghanistan on Saturday, while Steve Smith is a lock in the middle having capped his recent purple patch with a century against England on Saturday.

Aaron Finch is the captain, allrounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have been key cogs in Australia's ODI resurgence, while Shaun Marsh has been the side's best-performed batter going back to last year's tour of the United Kingdom.

Khawaja may have pushed himself in front of Marsh, though selectors won't have forgotten how he propped up the top order almost singlehandedly in Smith and Warner's absence on Australia's limited-overs tour of the UK last year.

Khawaja, who wasn't even part of the extended squad for that tour and has been dropped numerous times from both Test and ODI sides, is tuning out the selection questions.

"I'm in a place in my life and my career where I'm really enjoying my cricket …. I'm going to keep trying to have fun," he said.

"It's a World Cup, I'm going to do my best whatever I have to do, whether I'm playing, whether I'm not playing, I want to do my best.

"There are some things I can't control, I've been in and out of the teams as much as anyone. It's a privilege to play for Australia so I'm just glad to be here."

Adding to the dilemma for selectors is the call over where Khawaja bats if he does win a berth.

Finch and Khawaja average an astonishing 64.07 as an opening partnership in their 14 ODIs together, the best average of any Australian pair (minimum 10 innings), but that may well be trumped by the fact Warner is one of his country's greatest ever openers.

Only three Australian men have more ODI tons than Warner's 14, while Finch is one behind him on 13. (Ricky Ponting scored 29 hundreds, Mark Waugh 18 and Adam Gilchrist 16.)

Australia have however flirted with Warner batting at three, trying him at first drop in two of their recent warm-up games.

Although Khawaja looms as a more likely No.3, he says the trio of him, Finch and Warner could all easily adapt to opening with one another.

"We all know each other pretty well, Finchy, Davey and myself are all the same age," said the 32-year-old, the eldest of the trio who were born less than two months apart.

"We've grown up playing against each other. I've known Davey since I was six, I played against Finchy first when I was 15, we played in the (2006) Under-19 World Cup together.

"We know each other quite well. We've batted with each other so many times so it's quite easy no matter who you bat with."

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 22: (warm-up) Australia beat West Indies by seven wickets

May 25: (warm-up) Australia beat England by 12 runs

May 27: (warm-up) Australia beat Sri Lanka by five wickets

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE