Usman Khawaja withdraws from Shield match with a spot in

Usman Khawaja withdraws from Shield match with a spot in the finals at stake.

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Usman Khawaja has chosen not to participate in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against South Australia, despite potential implications for the final. He informed selectors of his unavailability, opting instead to attend the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, prioritizing rest to maintain his fitness for upcoming Test matches. Khawaja, who has been instrumental in Queensland’s performances this season, could be available if the team reaches the final. Additionally, several other Cricket Australia contracted players are absent due to IPL commitments. Meanwhile, Queensland’s match preparations were affected by weather conditions, and other teams are also adjusting their line-ups ahead of critical fixtures.

Australia’s Test opener Usman Khawaja has chosen not to participate in Queensland’s upcoming Sheffield Shield match against South Australia, which could secure them a spot in the final. However, he may be available for the final if they advance.

Khawaja was excluded from Queensland’s 14-man squad after notifying the selectors of his unavailability. Queensland Cricket accepted Khawaja’s decision, with captain Marnus Labuschagne returning to lead the team after being away with the Australian ODI squad at the Champions Trophy.

He isn’t the only Cricket Australia contracted player missing from the match, as Xavier Bartlett is also unavailable for the rest of the season due to his participation in the IPL with Punjab Kings. Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Spencer Johnson will also miss the remainder of the season for South Australia as they head to the IPL, but Alex Carey has been named to compete against Queensland and will be available for the Shield final.

Interestingly, Khawaja’s absence is notable as he is in good form, having achieved match-winning scores of 127 and 33 not out in Queensland’s victory over Tasmania, helping the Bulls stay in the hunt for the final, currently sitting second on the table just 1.41 points ahead of New South Wales. Instead of playing the Shield match at Karen Rolton Oval, Khawaja has opted to fly from Brisbane to Melbourne to enjoy the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The 38-year-old has carefully managed his schedule in recent years, prioritizing rest over playing consecutive matches to remain mentally and physically sharp for his Test duties while trying to extend his career. This management approach has been supported by Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket.

He missed one of Queensland’s first four Shield matches to rest ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and rightly skipped the Shield match against Western Australia that began nine days after his tour of Sri Lanka, where he achieved a career-best 232 not out in the first Test. Khawaja was not the only Test player absent during that round, although Beau Webster played for Tasmania after featuring in the last three Tests for Australia.

Khawaja has participated in 11 first-class matches this summer, which includes seven Tests, surpassing the total games and days an Australian domestic red-ball batter typically plays in a Shield summer. He has also captained Queensland to a Shield title in 2021. Following the Shield season’s conclusion in the final week of March, Khawaja will likely have all of April and May to recuperate before gearing up for four Tests in June and July, which include the WTC final and a three-Test tour of the Caribbean. He will have no international duties until the Ashes commence in late November.

Meanwhile, Khawaja’s Queensland teammates arrived in Adelaide early to gain an extra day of practice on Thursday ahead of their match beginning on Saturday, having been unable to train throughout the week due to heavy rain following Cyclone Alfred.

South Australia has rested quick Brendan Doggett for the Queensland matchup while Nathan McAndrew returns after being rested during the win over Victoria last week.

In other news, Australia Test quick Scott Boland has been ruled out of Victoria’s crucial match against WA at the WACA ground due to some knee soreness experienced after the loss to South Australia. If Victoria fails to qualify for the Shield final, he will enter a period of extended rest before starting a long build-up toward the WTC final, which will include some bowling sessions in Melbourne and up to three training camps in Brisbane.

Victoria captain Will Sutherland returns after being rested for the defeat against South Australia, and Peter Siddle has also been included in the 13-man squad. Victoria has additionally called upon former WA quick David Moody following impressive performances for Victoria’s second XI.

New South Wales has named Australia Champions Trophy players Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, and Tanveer Sangha for their day-night pink ball clash with Tasmania at Ninja Stadium (Bellerive Oval) in Hobart. A win, along with substantial bonus points, could be sufficient for NSW to qualify for the final ahead of Queensland, even if Queensland triumphs over South Australia.

Sheffield Shield squads

Queensland squad: Marnus Labuschagne (c), Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Angus Lovell, Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Jackson Sinfield, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler, Jack Wildermuth

South Australia squad: Nathan McSweeney (c), Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Conor McInerney, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton

Western Australia squad: Sam Whiteman (c), Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Joel Curtis, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Joel Paris, Corey Rocchiccioli, Charlie Stobo, Ashton Turner.

Victoria squad: Will Sutherland (c), Scott Boland, ⁠Harry Dixon, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Blake MacDonald, David Moody, Todd Murphy, Fergus ⁠O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Peter Siddle

Tasmania: Jordan Silk (c), Gabe Bell, Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Matt Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Aidan O’Connor, Mitch Owen, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Tim Ward, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

New South Wales squad: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards (c), Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Blake Nikitaras, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha

Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo

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