The Surprising Reason Usman Khawaja Didn't Open the Batting for Australia in the First Ashes Test
The first Ashes Test saw a bizarre twist when Usman Khawaja, Australia's preferred No 3 batter, didn't open the batting. This decision exposed his teammates to England's aggressive opening bowlers, leading to a dismal 172-run total. But what caused this unusual lineup change?
It turns out Khawaja had been off the field for an extended period, taking "toilet breaks and stretching" according to ABC Sport. The rules dictate that he must stay off the pitch for 10 minutes, which meant he couldn't return to open the batting when a nervous Jake Weatherald was out LBW to Jofra Archer. This error exposed captain Steve Smith to the new ball, although Smith and Marnus Labuschagne later put up a fight.
The real star of the day was Mitchell Starc, who took seven wickets on the first day at the Perth Stadium, recording his 17th five-wicket haul. Starc's brilliant performance sent England's batting unit into disarray, reducing them to 168-7 by the end of the day. The 35-year-old fast bowler got Australia's Ashes defense off to a perfect start, dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck in the first over.
This controversial decision and Starc's stellar performance set the tone for the rest of the Test, leaving fans and analysts alike with much to discuss and debate.
