'Hope his leg's broken': Coach's brutal sledge for injured Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja has copped it from Brad Haddin after limping off the field in Australia’s World Cup warmup match against Sri Lanka.

The Aussie batsman sent a scare through the side when he was struck on his troublesome knee while fielding at mid-off on Monday.

Khawaja stayed on the ground in clear pain, before leaving the field under the eye of the team physio.

While everyone held their breath about the extent of the injury, fielding coach Haddin assured everyone he was fine.

However he couldn’t resist a cheeky dig.

“The way he walked off, I hope his leg’s broken,” Haddin told the World Cup social media team in jest.

“He’s got a bit of a bruise but he’ll be right to go.”

Thankfully he managed to shake off the knock and made a brilliant 89 from 105 balls in Australia’s innings.

Opener or No.3?

Engaged in a battle with David Warner to partner Aaron Finch in Australia’s opening match against Afghanistan on Saturday, Khawaja made the perfect case.

He fell stumped just before Australia wrapped up their chase of 8-239 with five wickets and five overs to spare, making for the defending champions' third straight victory since arriving on English soil.

With Warner rested from Monday's match with upper leg soreness, Khawaja took his chance at the top.

He hit just three boundaries in his knock, but was solid all around the ground, most notably on the pull shot to anything short and the early cover drive.

Khawaja averages 96.8 as an opener in one-day cricket compared with 38.96 at No.3.

He also starred at the top of the order in the recent away series against India and Pakistan.

"I do love opening, absolutely," Khawaja said.

"That's where I batted my whole life in one-day cricket. But at the end of the day it is about winning games and doing the best for your team.

"It doesn't matter what happens or where I play."

In Australia's six warm-up matches, Khawaja has opened four times and Warner three.

Warner is however Australia's fourth most prolific one-day opener in history.

And while he is yet to pass 50 in his four warm-up games in Australian colours since his ban ended, he was the leading run-scorer in this year's Indian Premier League.

"It's just a mindset thing as a batsman. When you're opening it's slightly different to batting No.3 and slightly different to No.5," Khawaja said of preparing for the different roles.

"As an opener knowing you're going out there to face the first ball and what you're trying to do when you take the game on a bit and suss out the conditions.

"It's a bit different when you come in the middle order you have to approach it differently.

"The beauty about our team is a lot of guys can bat in different positions and have batted in different positions."

Both players have also spent time at No.3, where Shaun Marsh appears in danger of missing selection.

The West Australian combined for an 80-run stand with Khawaja on Monday, but was caught at long on trying to take Dhananjaya Silva down the ground on 34.

Australia's bowlers had earlier split their wickets, with Adam Zampa (2-39) the pick.

Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Cummins and Kane Richardson also each claimed one - albeit with the latter being the most expensive as he fights to be the third quick.

with AAP