First Test: With bat and armband, Aussie openers protest loud and clear

Usman Khawaja wore a black arm band but it was his childhood friend David Warner who staged a protest with his bat on the first day of the Perth Test match against Pakistan.

Usman Khawaja wore a black arm band – a statement of his ­sorrow and annoyance at having his human rights gesture silenced by authorities – but it was his childhood friend David Warner who staged a protest with his bat on the first day of the Perth Test match against Pakistan.

Khawaja reluctantly taped over the offending messages on his shoes, but challenged cricket authorities by wearing a black arm band as a symbol of his ­concerns surrounding the conflict in Gaza.

Warner, who has been under the pump about his form and his right to a place in the side, peeled off an innings that defied his critics and endorsed the selectors’ faith in him.

It was an important day for both, who trace their relationship back to primary school days.

Warner marked his 26th Test century with a trademark leap then turned toward the commentary boxes and indicated his critics had been silenced.

Mitchell Johnson, who wrote a particularly scathing piece recently, appeared to be the source of his ire, but there are many who had written Warner off.

The 37-year-old said ahead of the winter Ashes series in ­England that he would like to retire in his home Test at Sydney, but many believed his form did not warrant him getting that far.

With a trio of potential openers waiting in the wings and ­talented all-rounder Cameron Green trying to find a way back into the side the pressure was on. But Warner announced his intent with an innings of 164 that included four sixes and 16 fours.

A lap scoop for six off Pakistan’s key bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi signalled his mood but a drive through covers off the ­bowling of Khurram Shazam was exquisite.

Before play Khawaja accused cricket of having double standards over his plan to wear human rights slogans on his shoes during the Test.

Usman Khawaja wears a black arm band. Picture: Getty Images

The Australian revealed on Tuesday that Khawaja had written “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right” on the equipment and was planning to wear them to draw attention to the situation in the Middle East.

“I am a grown man I can do anything I want, but I think the ICC will keep coming down and giving me fines and at some point it will detract from the game,” Khawaja told the Seven Network before play. The Pakistan-born batsman, who had released an emotional video on Instagram the night before the match began, said he felt there were double standards at play.

“There’s so much that has happened in the past that sets a precedent,” Khawaja told Fox Cricket.

“I’m in full support of Black Lives Matter. There’s plenty of guys who have written on their shoes before.

“There’s other guys that have written religious things on their equipment, and under the ICC guidelines, that’s not technically allowed, but the ICC never says anything on that.

“I find it a little bit disappointing they came down hard on me and they don’t always come down hard on everyone else.”

The shoes of Usman Khawaja of Australia are seen with tape covering the message "All lives matter". Picture: Getty Images

Khawaja plans to apply for permission to wear the shoes at the Boxing Day Test but may ­encounter a sanction for wearing the black armband, which is customarily used when a player has suffered a personal tragedy.

Australia captain Pat Cummins supported Khawaja’s stance and his teammates have been supportive.

“You want everyone to bring their own individual self to the team. And what was on the shoes – all lives are equal – I mean, I support that,” Cummins said on Thursday.

“I think that’s not very divisive. I don’t think anyone can really have too many complaints about that.”

Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird endorsed players who “use their voice on issues that are important to them” but said the rules needed to be observed.

“When the team and ICC is involved, there are rules involved,” Mr Baird told ABC Sport.

“So from our point of view, [we’re] very happy to support Uzzy (Khawaja) and he’s ­obviously directly impacted by the ­conflict that is going on in the Middle East and wants to use his voice.

“It’s just a question of how we use it noting the rules that are in place.”