User:TripleRoryFan/sandbox/Usman Khawaja with the Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2017–18

Usman Khawaja played for the Australian cricket team on their tour of South Africa in early 2018.

Background
Khawaja was included in Australia's squad as a specialist batsman. The opening batsmen in the team were David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, but Bancroft's form had not yet cemented his place in the team and there was no backup opening batsman. Khawaja had previously opened the batting for Australia in a match when Warner had not been allowed to open due to briefly leaving the field in the previous innings, and captain Steve Smith indicated that Khawaja could open the batting if Bancroft was dropped from the team.

Khawaja was originally set to play in a Sheffield Shield match for Queensland before the tour began, but he had injured his left thumb in a Big Bash League match for the Sydney Thunder and didn't want to risk worsening the injury.

Tour match vs. South Africa A
Australia's only tour match to prepare for the Test series against South Africa was a three-day match against South Africa A. Australia decided to play their best possible squad, but as David Warner was missing from the side at the time, Khawaja was moved from his regular number 3 spot to opening the batting alongside Cameron Bancroft.