Khawaja, Labuschagne and Carey available for BBL cameos

 Cricket Australia rested Travis Head ahead of the West Indies Test series.

                   Marnus Labuschagne is available for Brisbane Heat this week

Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Alex Carey have been called up for their club's next BBL matches during the brief break between the Pakistan and West Indies Test series, but ODI World Cup finalist Travis Head has been rested.

Khawaja and Labuschagne are scheduled to play for the undefeated Brisbane Heat against the Perth Scorchers at the Gabba on Wednesday, while Carey will play for the Adelaide Strikers against the Hobart Hurricanes the day before.

Steven Smith is also expected to play for the Sydney Sixers against the Sydney Thunder on Friday, with David Warner planning to helicopter in after his brother's wedding.

The availability of Khawaja and Labuschagne, who played in the season's first game against the Melbourne Stars, will make some difficult selection decisions for the Heat, who have been the standout team this season with six wins in eight games and are already guaranteed at least a top-three finish in the regular season.

Their remaining two games are against the defending champions, the Scorchers, and these games will most likely determine who finishes first and hosts the Qualifier final on January 19.

"It will be good for the group to have Usman and Marnus back around the team, especially as we get into the business end of the competition," Wade Seccombe, the head coach of the Heat, said.

Carey's return is a boost for the struggling Strikers, who are currently sixth with only two wins and will most likely need to win their final three games to advance.

The Strikers released a statement that read: "In consultation with Cricket Australia medical staff, Travis Head will not be available for Big Bash selection during the break between international Test series".

Carey's availability for Thursday's return match against the Hurricanes in Hobart has yet to be confirmed. Mitchell Marsh will be unavailable for the Scorchers' match against the Heat on Wednesday in Brisbane.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc signed as marquee supplementary players with the Thunder and Sixers, respectively, this season to help promote the competition, but they have never been expected to play. Cameron Green does not have a BBL contract and chose not to sign one this season due to a combination of schedule constraints and a desire to focus on red-ball cricket.

Lance Morris (Scorchers) and Scott Boland (Stars) were previously released from the Test squad to compete in the BBL.

Nathan Lyon will not be able to make his Melbourne Renegades debut this season, as their next game is on Saturday, the day the Test squad is scheduled to gather in Adelaide ahead of the first Test against the West Indies on January 17.

The Sydney Test against India in the first week of January will be the last of the home summer, giving Australia's Test players a much longer window to play in the BBL next season. The ODI World Cup pushed back the start date of this season's schedule.