'Tough decision': Cricket great's brutal call on Usman Khawaja
The world's most in-form one-day international batsman will be dropped to accomodate David Warner in Australia's World Cup starting XI, according to a cricket great.
No one has scored more runs than Aussie opener Usman Khawaja's 769 at an average of 59.15 in 2019.
Yet Test legend and former Australia captain Mark Taylor can't see any place for the swashbuckling batsman in Australia's World Cup squad, with Warner likely to slot back in at opener alongside captain Aaron Finch.
Khawaja batted at the top of the order in Australia's most recent game against the West Indies on Wednesday - a seven-wicket win that saw the batsman struck on the helmet by an Andre Russell delivery.
“I think Australia have got it fairly clear in their minds what they’re planning to do,” Taylor told Wide World of Sports.
“I really believe Warner will open the batting with Finch, even though Khawaja filled that spot in the match on Wednesday night.”
“So somebody has to go from the line-up that played on Wednesday night, and I think it will be Khawaja, albeit it’s a tough decision because he hasn’t done a lot wrong.”
Stoinis tipped to win allrounder spot
Marcus Stoinis was omitted from the Windies match but Taylor believes the Aussie allrounder is almost certain to feature in Australia's starting XI during the World Cup.
Australia named bowling quintet Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Adam Zampa in the match against the Windies, however, it was an unorthodox 12-a-side warm-up match meaning at least one will also miss out on World Cup selection.
It's for that reason Taylor argues Khawaja will be sacrificed for Stoinis when the tournament begins in England next week.
Khawaja was forced off the field early in his innings on Wednesday, after being hit by a ball that reared up off a length and caught him under the grill on his helmet.
The Australian was immediately surrounded by the West Indies fielders and his former Sydney Thunder teammate Russell, before being led from the field by team doctor Richard Saw.
Khawaja escapes serious injury
Subsequent hospital scans luckily failed to show any serious injury to the 32-year-old.
The Queensland batsman has been in imperious form in the series wins against India and Pakistan, and will be hoping it secures him a spot in Australia's opening match against Afghanistan on June 1.
"It was very scary," said batsman Shaun Marsh, who scored an unbeaten 55 and is vying with Khawaja for a starting spot when Australia's face Afghanistan.
"It copped him on the side of the cheekbone ... the main thing is he is OK and can bounce back pretty quickly.
"He was a bit shaken, as you are when you get hit on the head, but he is a tough cookie Uzzy and he'll be ready to go."