Eman 
The Scapegoating of Usman Khawaja – Back Injury, Not Golf, Dictated Perth Absence
ZeeaK 
The drama of the first Ashes Test in Perth was compounded by the limited availability and subsequent early injury of veteran opener Usman Khawaja. His absence, which forced a significant rearrangement of Australia’s batting order, has unfortunately been linked by some observers to a round of golf he played the day before the match.
However, questioning Khawaja’s commitment or preparation priorities is entirely unwarranted. The left-hander’s inability to open the batting was directly caused by a sudden and severe back spasm, an issue that arose during the warm-ups on Day 1.
Preparation Was Standard Procedure
Contrary to suggestions of complacency, Khawaja had maintained his usual rigorous schedule:
- He spent a combined six hours in the nets across the three days leading up to the game, facing top bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
- He was fully involved in routine fielding drills two days before the Test began.
- The practice of playing golf is a common mental and physical refresher used by many international athletes to escape the intensity of the cricket environment. Khawaja himself successfully used golf breaks before his crucial centuries in Ahmedabad (2023) and Birmingham (2023).
The Painful Reality of the Injury
The source of Khawaja’s trouble was a physical flare-up, not a lapse in focus:
- Khawaja initially felt the stiffness during warm-ups on Friday morning and took strong painkillers to take the field for England’s innings.
- His participation was severely limited by the spasm, forcing him to hobble off the field shortly after play began.
- Despite the pain, he returned to the field on Day 2 for 15 overs, a necessary move to qualify to bat in his preferred opening spot for Australia’s second innings. Unfortunately, a difficult leap while attempting a slip catch caused an awkward fall, effectively ending his hopes of taking strike alongside debutant Jake Weatherald.
His misfortune did, however, lead to the unexpected promotion of Travis Head, who delivered a heroic, match-defining innings, which Khawaja himself jokingly labeled “the best back spasm” he’s ever had.
The Real Question Mark: Future Selection
While the cause of his non-participation was clear (injury), the incident has unfortunately intensified the scrutiny on Khawaja’s place in the team ahead of the next Test in Brisbane.
- Head’s Case: The success of promoting Head to the top of the order after his devastating performance presents a major temptation for selectors.
- Recent Form: Since David Warner’s retirement, Khawaja’s returns have been lean. Excluding his epic 232 in Sri Lanka, the left-hander has managed only 536 runs at an average of 21.44 in 27 innings in challenging seam-friendly conditions. This lack of big scores since the 2023-24 home Test summer is the tangible issue facing the selectors.
Regardless of the difficult decisions ahead, the veteran’s commitment cannot be questioned. Whatever transpires regarding his future involvement in the series will not stem from any compromise in his preparation or dedication.
Source: Cricbuzz IMAGE CREDITS : CRICBUZZ Want more behind-the-scenes insights and expert analysis? Click here to dive deeper into the Ashes and all our exclusive content!
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