Khawaja called up as Warner goes on paternity leave

Top-order batsman Usman Khawaja has been drafted into the Australia squad for the ongoing ODI series against India in place of opener David Warner whose wife is expecting the couple’s second child.

Published : Jan 12, 2016 21:01 IST , Perth

Khawaja’s most recent innings was a 42-ball 62 for Sydney Thunder against the Melbourne Renegades on January 11.
Khawaja’s most recent innings was a 42-ball 62 for Sydney Thunder against the Melbourne Renegades on January 11.
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Khawaja’s most recent innings was a 42-ball 62 for Sydney Thunder against the Melbourne Renegades on January 11.

Top-order batsman Usman Khawaja has been drafted into the Australia squad for the ongoing ODI series against India in place of opener David Warner whose wife is expecting the couple’s second child.

Khawaja will join the squad in Brisbane and, at this stage, will remain for matches two and three of the five-game series, at the Gabba on January 15 and at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 17, Cricket Australia said.

National selector Rod Marsh said Warner would be welcomed back into the squad when circumstances allow.

“We wish both David and Candice (Warner’s wife) well and look forward to welcoming David back into the squad when circumstances allow,” Marsh said.

Commenting on Khawaja’s call-up, Marsh said: “Usman has been in fantastic form this season and was unlucky to miss out on a place in our squad for the Victoria Bitter ODI Series in the first place.

Good form

“This call-up is a reward for that form and it is great to have someone of his quality to step into the squad in David’s absence.”

Khawaja’s most recent innings was a 42-ball 62 for Sydney Thunder against the Melbourne Renegades on January 11 and that followed on from his scores of 144 and 56 against the West Indies in the Boxing Day Test of the Commonwealth Bank series.

That was his comeback to international cricket after a hamstring injury struck following scores of 174, nine not out and 121 in Test action against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Victorian all-rounder John Hastings would join the squad in Brisbane to allow Mitchell Marsh extra rest at home in Perth before returning to the group for the third ODI in Melbourne on Sunday.

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