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Usman Khawaja has come under fire from Australian cricket fans after a bizarre incident left him unable to open the batting. The controversy unfolded when Khawaja was prohibited from starting due to spending excessive time off the field during England’s innings.
Initially, it was reported that the 38-year-old had left the field to stretch and use the restroom. However, team captain Pat Cummins later clarified that Khawaja was actually receiving treatment for back spasms.
The reaction from fans and cricket legends, including Tom Moody, was swift and critical, with Moody describing the situation as “beyond a joke.” The criticism intensified when reports surfaced that Khawaja had opted to play 18 holes of golf the previous day, missing an optional team training session.
The situation worsened when Weatherald was dismissed for a duck by Jofra Archer, and Khawaja was out for just two runs, contributing to a disastrous start for the Australians.
While playing golf ahead of major matches is not uncommon for Khawaja and other players, many supporters were infuriated, blaming his golfing outing for his absence, which they felt significantly hindered Australia’s first innings in Perth.
Pictured: Usman Khawaja is downcast as England’s Brydon Carse celebrates removing him for two runs after farcical scenes involving the Aussie batter
Khawaja (left) was not allowed to open the batting because he spent too much time off the field getting treated for back spasms after playing a round of golf the day before
At 38 years of age, there were concerns about Khawaja (pictured with wife Rachel) before the Ashes began – and the disaster on day one in Perth has put a rocket under those worries
‘Usman Khawaja just cemented himself as the most selfish cricketer in the game,’ one Aussie fan wrote on X.
‘Better rest him for the remainder of the series, I reckon,’ added another.
‘In other words, he’s not 100% fit and we were screwed because of it. It’s time to go please Ussie. You’ve done well coming back but we need youth and someone who will score more than 10 runs a session,’ commented a third.
‘If it took fielding in the slips for a couple of hours to send his back into spasms, he’s done. Retire now. I can only imagine the turmoil it put in Weatherald’s mind in his first Test innings. Time to go…NOW,’ another wrote.
Australia’s ageing team was a major worry going into the series opener, and the Khawaja episode has put a rocket under those concerns.
The initial confusion surrounding Khawaja’s stint off the field led to a wave of criticism from experts and fans alike.
‘They’ve obviously been caught off-guard, which is the last thing that Marnus wanted, the last thing that Jake wanted,’ former Test skipper Ricky Ponting told the Seven Network.
‘Jake Weatherald would have been forging a relationship with Usman all week to build up and face his first ball in Test cricket.
Pictured: Samples of the furious reactions from Aussie fans after Khawaja’s absence proved a disaster for Australia’s first innings
‘That was all taken away.’
The drama even caught England by surprise.
‘I don’t think we really even realised it,’ England paceman Brydon Carse said.
‘You know, come the start of the innings, it was obviously probably more unsettling for the Aussies.’
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg leapt to Khawaja’s defence on Saturday.
‘It’s held him in good stead over the last couple of years,’ Greenberg told SEN radio, adding that critics of the golf outing are ‘drawing a long bow’.
‘It’s not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf the day prior. A lot of them will talk about cricket being played between the ears, and so getting some time away from your hotel or training is really important.
‘I noticed Mitchell Starc played golf with him, so it certainly didn’t affect his performance.’
Aussie cricket great Tom Moody was far less forgiving in his commentary for the ABC.
‘I’m stunned. Absolutely poor management,’ Moody said.
‘At the end of the day, to gamble on the fact that he could come back on the field when England is eight down. That is beyond a joke.
‘He is our most experienced top-order player. We needed Khawaja at the front to lead the batting unit into this series.
‘For that to take more than 20 minutes, unless we’re not getting the right information, that’s a different story.
‘It’s beyond belief. You do not take the risk knowing you’re right on the cusp of bowling England out.’