Khawaja suffers warm-up injury scare

Usman Khawaja's bumpy start to his World Cup campaign has continued after leaving the field injured for the second time in three warm-up games.

Khawaja is expected to bat despite limping off the Ageas Bowl early on Monday afternoon (local time) after copping a ball to his left knee while fielding in a practice game against Sri Lanka.

It was an innocuous blow, but Khawaja struggled to get back to his feet and eventually had to be escorted off the field by the team doctor.

Australia have confirmed the blow was only a contact injury, rather than a twist or anything more severe, and it didn't stop him from batting in Australia's chase, where he compiled a superb 89 before being stumped.

The scare comes after Khawaja was forced to retire hurt in Wednesday's practice game against West Indies following a brutal blow to his jaw. Scans however revealed no break and was passed fit to play in the ensuing warm-up game against England on Saturday.

The left-hander has previously had problems with that knee, requiring surgery after tearing his meniscus during Australia's Test series against Pakistan in the UAE.

He also tore his anterior cruciate ligament in 2014 in an innocuous training mishap with the Sydney Thunder, missing seven months of cricket.

That injury ruled him out of the last World Cup, for which he was an outside chance of featuring in given his dominant run in the 2014-15 domestic one-day tournament for Queensland.

Fellow top-order batter David Warner is missing the ongoing game against Sri Lanka due to leg soreness, but Australia say his absence is only precautionary and is expected to be fine for their World Cup opener against Afghanistan on Saturday.

Khawaja was replaced on the field by Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Khawaja appears locked in a battle with Shaun Marsh jostling for one top-order spot for Australia’s first World Cup match.

Marsh is averaging 40 in recent practice matches while Khawaja is averaging 30, though both have played key roles in Australia’s eight-game ODI win streak in the lead-in to the Cup.

But the returns of Steve Smith and David Warner has put the squeeze on.

"Whatever happens, happens," Khawaja said when about selection. "Some things you can't control, I've learnt over time.

"The good thing is everyone is playing really good cricket. Whatever team plays the first game, confident that we're putting a really good side on the park.

"For me, it's not important what happens (with selection) in that first game. I'm just enjoying being part of a World Cup squad."

More to come.

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) England v Australia, Southampton

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

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