Usman Khawaja could not open for Australia after he made a poorly timed decision to leave the field for treatment of back spasms. This happened just before England’s first innings collapsed on the opening day in Perth, causing a rushed rearrangement of the batting order.
Usman Khawaja Back Spasms Disrupt Australia’s Opening Plans
After months of discussion about Australia’s lineup and the selectors’ choice to put Marnus Labuschagne back at No. 3, Labuschagne had to open with debutant Jake Weatherald. Khawaja missed the last three overs of England’s innings while they lost 5 wickets for 20 runs in 23 balls, ending up bowled out for just 172.
“I didn’t know about it until the 9th wicket when he still had 10 minutes or so to make up,” Mitchell Starc said. “We were caught off guard with the wickets falling quickly at the end. It’s just unfortunate. He’ll manage that overnight and see how it is tomorrow.”
Khawaja, 38, had left the field several times in the first three hours of play and stepped out again when the score was 152 for 5 after 29 overs. He struggled with back stiffness all day and experienced a spasm the second time he left.
England Collapse as Chaos Unfolds on the Field
Meanwhile, England collapsed while he was trying to stretch, which led stand-in captain Steven Smith to call him back onto the field. Usman Khawaja eventually returned for the end of the innings, but under ICC rules, he had not been back for the same amount of time he was off and was therefore not eligible to open the batting.
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