Usman Khawaja's problematic thumb has ruled him out of the Sydney Thunder's must-win Big Bash League match with the Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday night.
Khawaja, the Thunder's leading run-scorer in the franchise's history, had an old left thumb injury flare up while batting in Thunder's win over the Melbourne Stars on Saturday.
Scans later revealed no fracture, but the bruising and discomfort has been deemed significant enough to rule him out of their last regular season match in Canberra.
It comes just days after senior batsman Callum Ferguson was ruled out for the end of the Big Bash season with a hamstring injury.
The Thunder have drafted former Test opener Ed Cowan into their 13-man squad for Ferguson, while Aiden Blizzard is also a chance of earning a call up.
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The Thunder's only hopes of making the finals rest with them beating the Renegades on Wednesday night, and then hoping either the Melbourne outfit or Hobart lose their last match of the regular season.
Meanwhile the Renegades confirmed Brad Hodge will captain the side for the final two games of the regular season with Cameron White returning to the Australian one-day camp.
