Usman Khawaja believes his back spasms will clear in time for next week’s day-night Test in Brisbane, yet the veteran left-hander has raised eyebrows by labelling the first-day Perth pitch “s” after 19 wickets tumbled in fewer than 80 overs.
Khawaja missed the chance to open in either innings of the series opener. England’s collapse on the first afternoon left him short of time off the field, so Marnus Labuschagne walked out with debutant Jake Weatherald, Steven Smith shuffled to No. 3 and Khawaja eventually appeared at four – lasting just two balls before Brydon Carse found extra bounce and a thin glove.
The International Cricket Council’s match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, still graded the Optus Stadium surface “very good”. Khawaja could not hide his frustration at a charity function for the Usman Khawaja Foundation.
“Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that’s a great wicket – that seems real fair,” he said, sarcasm obvious. “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.
“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. 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.
“They do get better. Day two, day three, and then day four, they start to crack up.”
Those comments may draw attention from match officials, yet they also echo murmurs inside both camps. Former captains Michael Clarke and Aaron Finch, speaking on television, argued Australia must field a specialist spinner at the Gabba, a hint the home side might prefer something less volatile.
Khawaja, who turns 39 on 18 December, insists the back twinge will not keep him out, though Travis Head’s rapid 123 in Perth has intensified selection debate.
“I feel good,” he said. “I’d never experienced it before, but the last few days have been good. I’ve never had back spasms before, so it’s been quite new for me. I’ve been quite lucky. I’m 39 years old [on December 18] and have always had a pretty solid back. Rachel, my wife, has been taking care of me – she’s been letting me sleep in a fair bit actually, I’ve really been taking advantage of it. I should be right.”
The opener then retraced Perth’s frantic finish on day one, when Smith gestured urgently from the outfield while Khawaja tried to prove his fitness.
“I went off knowing I still wanted to open; I don’t want to bat anywhere else,” Khawaja said. “I went off, and I think they [England] were six down, and we just went bang, bang, wicket.
“I rushed back on, and then we take the next two wickets. That was the frustrating part for me, but I had no…”
He tailed off, a shrug doing the rest of the talking.
With the pink ball usually skidding on under lights in Brisbane, Australia’s selectors must balance Khawaja’s experience against Head’s form and the need for a frontline spinner. Pitch preparation will be monitored closely after the Perth roller-coaster; both teams would settle for something a touch more predictable, even if the Ashes rarely do predictable.
