Usman Khawaja has passed a final concussion check and Australia are confident both he and Travis Head should be right to play at the Gabba despite the latter battling COVID-19.
Three days after being struck in the jaw during the first Test in Adelaide, Khawaja was given the all-clear by Australia’s medical staff on Monday to play the second Test against the West Indies.
Tested daily since being hit by a nasty Shamar Joseph delivery, Khawaja has shown no signs of delayed concussion symptoms and will be fine to play at the Gabba.
It means he will be able to train during Australia’s main session on Tuesday, before the start of the final Test of the summer on Thursday.
The attention has now moved to what role Head will play in the lead-up to the match.
The South Australian has tested positive since Australia’s win in Adelaide, where he was named player of the match for his game-changing century.
It is expected the 30-year-old will make his way to Brisbane on Tuesday, and if still positive on Thursday he will play under COVID-19 protocols.
Those protocols would likely be the same enforced on Matt Renshaw during last year’s Sydney Test, where the Queenslander tested positive after the toss.
Protocols would include Head sitting away from the rest of the team while waiting to bat, having his own dressing room, and not touching teammates in on-field celebrations.
Officials hope it will not come to that, given the time frame between last week’s Adelaide Test and the first ball in Brisbane on Thursday.
It is the second time Head has battled the virus during an Australian Test summer.
The left-hander became the first Australian to miss a match after testing positive to the virus during the 2021-22 Ashes.
His absence proved crucial in the development of the Australian team, with Khawaja seizing his chance while filling in for Head with twin tons at the SCG.
There is no longer a requirement for players to sit out matches with the virus, but a substitute is available if they fall too ill during a Test.
Meanwhile, former Test opener Will Pucovski has been cleared of a concussion after being struck in the head and retiring hurt in a second XI game for Victoria.
He was struck on the helmet attempting a hook shot from South Australian paceman David Grant in the latest scare surrounding the 25-year-old.
Pucovski, who had made 42, has passed a concussion test and can continue batting in the fixture at Adelaide’s Karen Rolton Oval on Monday.
“He will be monitored through the day and rest of the game,” Cricket Victoria said in a statement.
Pucovski, who played one Test in January 2021, has returned to cricket this summer after suffering 11 concussions and taking leave for mental health reasons in 2022.
Before his return, the right hander, widely regarded as among Australia’s best young batters, had a year out of cricket.
Pucovski has played three Sheffield Shield games this season, with a top score of 65.
He also featured in a tour game for Victoria against Pakistan.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Seems a bit odd to have weird quarantine rules for Head. If someone has an infectious disease that can hospitalise or kill people, even if it’s rare, shouldn’t be going to work. Bad example for CA to set.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
RIP Phil Hughes
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
It would be useful to get the views of top-notch batting coaches, who worked with players in the era before helmets, about the issues they see with the current techniques for playing short pitched bowling. They obviously taught guys differently back in the day, so surely they'd be able to offer some insight into how a guy like Puckovski can avoid the ball because right now he's getting hit way too often.
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
Pucovski should give it away. It's almost at the point where the selectors have a duty of care not to pick him, especially at a national level. If he comes up against someone like an Archer, Bumrah or Rabada there's a strong possibility he could be sustain a life-altering injury or be killed.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Hopefully it's just a head cold
Ben Pobjie
Expert
Pucovski clearly has an issue with bouncers. The trouble is that improving his technique against balls aimed at his head will require aiming lots of balls at his head, which is probably not the best way to avoid future concussions. Bit of a catch 22.
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
AFL & League have major issues with it.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
I would not mind if bouncers were not allowed in cricket but most players manage to not go get hit, at least not as often as Puc. It suggests a problem with his technique and not the rules.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Some of his concussions were from AFL.
Mountie
Roar Rookie
Easy solution- any ball over shoulder height is a no ball. Bowlers only bowl there to intimidate and any hits on the head cause long term damage. Pucovski is a prime example - 11 concussions must have a lasting impact. Unwise for him to continue - especially given the risk that some bowlers will deliberatley target his head given his history.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
For someone with his reputation, Pucovski seems to get hit in the head an awful lot…
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Gotta love the Puc, but he has to work on his short ball technique. :unhappy: