Khawaja out of Brisbane Test after failing to recover from back spasms

Usman Khawaja's international future is in doubt after he was ruled out of the second Test at the Gabba after failing to recover from the back spasms that he suffered in the opening match in Perth.

Khawaja had batted for the first time since the injury on Tuesday during a 30-minute net session but did not come through it with a clean bill of health to be able available for selection. It will be the first Test he has missed since his return in early 2022.

"Khawaja will remain with the team to continue his rehabilitation," a statement said. "He has not been replaced in the squad."

The third Test begins in Adelaide on December 17 which gives Khawaja two weeks to recover although there will be questions over whether he can regain his place.

Khawaja's form was under scrutiny heading into the series - he is now averaging 31.84 since the end of the 2023 Ashes with one century in 45 innings - and coupled with the way Travis Head threw down the gauntlet as an opener and his public statements about being keen for the role, it had sparked a debate about whether now was the time to draw an end to Khawaja's Test career.

His absence opens the door for Head to continue the opening role he took on in the second innings in Perth where he carved his way to 123 off 83 balls although there are other potential routes Australia could take.

Since Perth, Head has spoken about being willing to take on the role on a more permanent basis but there remains an ongoing debate about his value at No. 5. Coach Andrew McDonald has also floated the notion of flexible batting orders within a Test.

"I'm not sure about the middle-order part, but I'd probably expect Trav to open," Scott Boland said. "It's hard because obviously he's put in a lot of work since the last game to try and get his body right but he hasn't come up unfortunately. I thought he looked pretty good in the nets but he must've thought himself that he wasn't ready to go."

Josh Inglis and Beau Webster are the spare batting options in the squad. Inglis, who made a century on Test debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year, scored a hundred against England Lions last week. Webster was unlucky to miss out on the XI in Perth having made four half-centuries in his first seven Tests alongside contributing handy wickets.

Boland added losing Khawaja wasn't ideal but was confident Australia would be able to adjust as they did in the first Test.

"I guess it does [upset the balance of the team] a little bit because we probably planned to have Uzzie there the whole time," he said. "But I think the best thing about our team over the last few years is that when someone has come out due to form or an injury or something like that, someone's always stood up and done their job.

"Trav did that last week and even without Pat [Cummins] and Josh [Hazlewood], some bowlers have come in and done a good job. We've obviously got huge depth in our squad and we can replace anyone if we need to."

If Head does take Khawaja's role again and makes a success of it, and whoever comes into the XI performs well, it may be tough for Khawaja to return.

Khawaja initially suffered back spasms on the opening day at Perth Stadium. England collapsed so quickly on the first afternoon that Khawaja was unable to open due to the time he'd spent off the field and when he emerged at No. 4 could only make 2 before gloving a short ball from Brydon Carse.

On the second day Khawaja took his place at first slip, taking a catch to remove Harry Brook and then spilling a low edge offered by Jamie Smith. His back went into spasm while leaping for another edge provided by Smith, opening the way for Head's remarkable century.