Cricket Australia left fuming after Usman Khawaja blames Perth pitch for latest failure
Usman Khawaja is facing sanctions from Cricket Australia for his unprovoked tirade as he blamed everything but himself for his latest failure.
Cricket Australia (CA) has reportedly been left furious with Usman Khawaja after the Australian opener blamed the Perth pitch for his failure in the first Ashes Test.
The first Ashes Test finished inside two days, with many blaming a mix of the Perth deck and the failure of Bazball.
But the ICC rated the wicket “very good”, the highest possible rating, something the 38-year-old opener was quick to voice his dismay at.
After learning of the rating, Khawaja said at a lunch for the Usman Khawaja Foundation on Friday that the pitch was a “piece of s***”, in a rant that could land him in hot water with Cricket Australia.
“Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that’s a great wicket – that seems real fair,” Khawaja said tongue in cheek.
“The same thing happened last year in the Indian Test, it’s just that day one wicket, the ball just does not react. Steve Smith’s by far the best cricketer I’ve ever played with, and he’s missing the middle of his bat by a long way – he does not miss the middle of his bat. He’s getting hit in the elbow, he’s getting hit.”
Those comments could land him in serious hot water, with Code Sports reporting that CA will give him the chance to respond when the Australian team congregates in Brisbane on Sunday, before deciding on any potential fine.
If they are not satisfied with his remarks, CA could hand down formal sanctions over the matter.
In Khawaja’s bizarre rant he also refused to take any blame for his poor display, where he scored just two runs off six balls in his lone innings.
“You can’t really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest – sideways is a little bit easier, but up and down, your hands can’t catch up, he continued.
“So day one wicket at (Perth) is a piece of s***, I’m happy to say that. It has been last year, it was this year.
“We know day two and day three is usually the best time to bat, that’s why whenever we play at Perth and we win the toss we bat first hoping that we can bat again maybe end of day two into day three.”
CA chief of cricket James Allsopp sang a different tune about the pitch on Thursday saying: “The match referee’s ‘very good’ rating justifies our belief Perth Stadium produced a pitch that provided a fair balance between bat and ball.”
Khawaja’s comments come as his place in the Test side grows increasingly uncertain by the day.
Travis Head’s incredible display in the second innings at opener to help the hosts to an eight-wicket win over England in Perth has given Aussie selectors another option at opener.
Since Warner’s retirement at the beginning of 2024, Australia has tried various opening partnerships, but none have been successful.
Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas and Labuschagne have all partnered with Usman Khawaja, 38, in the past two years.
Yet after 31-year-old Head shone up the order and Weatherald showed plenty of promise in the second innings, many had called for Khawaja to make way.
Khawaja has been a regular in the Test side for several years, but his form in the last two summers has left a lot to be desired.
In the past two years, he has only scored one Test century and surpassed 50 on one other occasion.
It led many to believe he would not be picked for the second Test in Brisbane.
But on Friday, selectors opted to give Khawaja another chance, selecting him in the 14-man squad.
While it is no guarantee he opens the batting, with Head potentially able to move up and allow Beau Webster to come back into the side, it appears unlikely that will happen at least for the second Test.
Let’s hope for Khawaja’s sake that the Gabba is more to his liking.
Australia squad for second Test: Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
Originally published as Cricket Australia left fuming after Usman Khawaja blames Perth pitch for latest failure
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