‘Caught off guard’: Starc reacts to unthinkable Khawaja situation as ‘unfortunate’ reason revealed
Usman Khawaja was caught up in a bizarre ruling on the first day of the First Ashes Test in Perth and deemed unable to open for the Aussies.
Batsman Usman Khawaja was caught up in a bizarre injury ruling on the first day of the First Ashes Test in Perth and deemed unable to open for the Aussies.
The Queenslander spent limited time on the field as teammate Mitchell Starc tore through England on Friday with a career-best seven-wicket haul.
Cricket Australia said Khawaja’s absence was due to “back stiffness”, with a back spasm later delaying his return.
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But given the time he spent off the field during the England innings, the opener was deemed ineligible to come out to bat when Starc rolled through the final wicket.
This was despite the pleas of captain Steve Smith to get Khawaja back out onto the field late in England’s innings, but he didn’t make the cut-off.
Fox Cricket cameras caught Smith animatedly gesturing to the bench before the 31st over on Friday, appealing for Khawaja’s return as England sat at seven wickets down.
And while he did return to the field two overs later, he didn’t leave enough time underl international cricket rules.
“There’s certain time constraints he has to match to be able to open the batting,” Mark Howard, a commentator for Kayo Sports which is broadcasting the Ashes series, said.
“Marnus (Labuschagne) is probably in Steve’s ear going ‘I don’t want to open’,” Michael Vaughan said.
“That was all the talking coming into the Test match – would Marnus open the batting? He was happy at number three,” Michael Hussey added.
Aussie star Mitchell Starc described the ordeal as “unfortunate”.
“I didn’t know about (Khawaja’s absence) until the ninth wicket – when he still had 10 minutes or so because he spent time off the field,” he said post-match.
“He had a back spasm there the second time he came off.
“We got caught off guard.
“It’s just unfortunate that was the case.”
Former Aussie cricketer Tom Moody took aim at the Aussies for the Khawaja blunder.
“Poor management… Beyond a joke… like Starc led the attack we needed Uzzie to lead the batting,” Moody said.
England’s collapse came so quickly, they lost their last few wickets in just 25 minutes.
“That’s not good enough,” Vaughan said.
It’s now England’s shortest innings under the Brendon McCullum/Ben Stokes leadership.
As a result of Khawaja’s absence, Marnus Labuschagne was promoted to partner debutant Jake Weatherald at the top of the order.
But it only got worse for the Aussies when Weatherald fell for a second-ball duck – and Khawaja was still unable to come to the crease due to the time restrictions.
When Khawaja did eventually appear, his former opening partner David Warner was concerned with the Queenslander’s fitness.
“He just seems a bit stiff,” he said.
“He just doesn’t look like the normal Usman Khawaja walking to the crease there.
“I sense a little bit of discomfort there. I don’t know whether it is his back or what, but that is not the normal approach when he walks out to bat.”
Khawaja didn’t last long once he did get his chance - making just two off six balls.
While Cricket Australia made clear it was a new injury multiple reports including ESPN and the West Australian reported Khawaja played 18 holes of golf on Thursday, opting to miss Australia’s last optional training session.
The front page of Tuesday's The West Australian. pic.twitter.com/kLkuQLDKsa
— The West Australian (@westaustralian) November 17, 2025
It is not uncommon for Khawaja to play golf the day before a Test match, the report said and. Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc also played on Thursday along with several members of the coaching staff.
Originally published as ‘Caught off guard’: Starc reacts to unthinkable Khawaja situation as ‘unfortunate’ reason revealed
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