Usman Khawaja still doubtful for the Boxing Day Test

Stylish Australian left-handed batsman, and the most likely heir-in-waiting to the crucial no. 3 spot in the batting line-up, Usman Khawaja, has suffered yet another setback en route his return to the Test side.

Khawaja was ruled out from the first of the two intervening fixtures before the Boxing-Day Test, the domestic T20 match against Sydney Sixers, which he was supposed to feature in, playing for his side Sydney Thunders.

"Cricket Australia have been working with Thunder medical staff on Usman's return to play criteria following his hamstring injury," said a statement on www.sydneythunder.com.au, the Sydney Thunder website.

"At this stage the plan is to have him return for the Thunder's second match against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Sunday. His participation will be confirmed later in the week."

Australia's selection conundrum

The batsman had sustained a hamstring injury during the second Test against New Zealand last month, was excluded from the historic day-night Test at Adelaide that followed, as well as from the 1st Test against the West Indies, where the home side secured a thumping innings victory, within three days.

He was named in the 13-man squad for the next Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), but coach Darren Lehmann had said that the southpaw would have to prove his fitness during the domestic Big Bash League (BBL).

Khawaja had laid a solid claim to the first-down spot in the Australian line-up after scoring two back-to-back hundreds in the first two Tests against New Zealand in Brisbane and Perth.

However, the batsman’s return would land the selectors in a potential dilemma, as Khawaja’s replacement for the Hobart Test, Shaun Marsh, hit a majestic hundred, and shared a world-record partnership with Adam Voges. So both Marsh, and Voges, who by the way, was unbeaten in 269, would be hard to eliminate from the playing XI.

Joe Burns, David Warner’s opening partner, has had a bit of a lean patch, since the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba, but that was only five innings back, which is a short sample size.

With Warner, and the skipper Steven Smith retaining their places, and Mitchell Marsh definitely in contention, should there be an injury to any of the fast-bowlers, there is a space only for five specialist batsmen.

In all likelihood, Shaun Marsh, Burns and Khawaja would fight for the remaining two spots in the side, provided Khawaja is fit. He would have one more opportunity to lay his claim for the playing XI though, as the Thunders are scheduled to play Melbourne Stars in their second game of the BBL at the MCG this Sunday.