In-form limited overs batsman suffers serious knee injury
Khawaja's Cricket World Cup dream ended
Star Sydney Thunder batsman Usman Khawaja has suffered a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that has ruled him out for the remainder of the summer and beyond.
“Usman injured his knee last night at training,” said Thunder physio Murray Ryan.
“He took an overhead catch and landed awkwardly on his left knee, it twisted underneath him and he felt a giving sensation.
“He had an MRI (scan) yesterday and that confirmed that he’s ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.
“He’s going to see a specialist on Friday but it’s likely he’ll need a knee reconstruction early next week, and the typical recovery from that surgery is around nine months.”
Khawaja, who was in irresistible touch in this summer's Matador One-Day Cup, scoring 523 runs at 74.71 to top the run-scorers list, was considered an outside chance for ICC World Cup selection, with the left-hander having dominated the domestic 50-over scene for the past four seasons.
“We are very disappointed that Usman will not be taking the field for us this summer and we wish him well with his recovery,” said Sydney Thunder General Manager, Nick Cummins.
“While his presence in the middle will be missed, he will remain with the Thunder and continue to contribute to the team with an off-field role.
“At this stage we will not be replacing Usman in the squad. We are confident in the group of batsmen we have assembled and look forward to seeing one of our younger players step up to fill his place.”
The injury represents a second blow in as many weeks to the Thunder's rebuilt batting order, after Englishman Craig Kieswetter pulled out of the tournament due to complications with an eye injury.
Khawaja, 27, has been a mainstay for the Thunder in the KFC T20 Big Bash League, playing all three seasons for the club and looked likely to form a dangerous opening combination with his Queensland Bulls teammate, Chris Hartley.
The Pakistan-born Sydney product has played nine Tests and three ODIs, and continues to be touted as a likely long-term national player, though this is his second setback this summer after he fractured a thumb late in the Matador Cup.