Australia suffer Khawaja blow ahead second Ashes test

New Delhi: Australia batter Usman Khawaja is unavailable for selection for the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane due to a back injury, the team declared on Tuesday.

The day-night match begins from Thursday with Australia 1-0 in the five-game series after their victory in the series opener in Perth.

He spent considerable time in the treatment table for back spasms and couldn’t open the batting in both innings, scoring only two in the first innings.

Middle-order batter Travis Head opened the innings in their second essay and smashed the second quickest century in Ashes history as Australia romped to victory inside two days.

"It's hard, because he's put in a lot of work since the last game just trying to get his body right but he hasn't come up unfortunately," Australia seamer Scott Boland said on Tuesday.

"I thought he looked pretty good in the nets, but he must have thought in himself that he wasn't ready to go."

Khawaja felt discomfort in the nets at the Gabba on Monday and Australia have decided not to call up any replacement in their squad for the 38-year-old, raising the possibility of Head opening the innings after his match-winning innings of 123 as a stop-gap opener in their eight-wicket victory.

"I am not sure about the middle-order but expect Travis Head to open," Boland said.

"I think the best thing about our team over the last few years is when someone has come out, either due to form or an injury, someone's always stood up and done their job."

Australia have tried out several batters as openers to fill the void of the retired David Warner. But the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith has not looked at ease in the nearly two years since Warner’s departure.

Labuschagne earlier said he and Smith won’t open the innings should Khawaja is ruled out with injury from the pink ball Test.

Meanwhile, England have decided to include spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks to replace pacer Mark Wood in their playing XI for the match.