Batsman Usman Khawaja has been caught up in a bizarre injury ruling on the first day of the First Ashes Test in Perth and ruled unable to open for the Aussies.
The Queenslander spent limited time on the field as teammate Mitchell Starc tore through England on Friday with a career-best seven-wicket haul.
But given the time Khawaja spent off the field during the England innings, the opener was deemed ineligible to come out to bat when Starc rolled through the final wicket.
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This was despite the pleas of captain Steve Smith to get Khawaja back out onto the field late in England’s innings, but he didn’t make the cut-off.
Fox Cricket cameras caught Smith animatedly gesturing to the bench before the 31st over on Friday, appealing for Khawaja’s return as England sat at seven wickets down.
And while he did return to the field two overs later, he didn’t leave enough time until international cricket rules.
“There’s certain time constraints he has to match to be able to open the batting,” Fox Cricket commentator Mark Howard said.
“Marnus (Labuschagne) is probably in Steve’s ear going ‘I don’t want to open’,” Michael Vaughan said.
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Usman Khawaja was deemed ineligible to open the batting.Source: FOX SPORTS
“That was all the talking coming into the Test match – would Marnus open the batting? He was happy at number three,” Michael Hussey added.
Tom Moody took aim at the Aussies for the Khawaja blunder.
“Poor management… Beyond a joke… like Starc led the attack we needed Uzzie to lead the batting,” Moody said.
Khawaja was seen back out on the field with fingers on both hands strongly taped.
He didn’t bat in Thursday’s optional net session, and spent minimal time with the bat at Wednesday’s training.
‘Only one innings’ Starc stays focused | 01:28
England’s collapse came so quickly, they lost their last few wickets in just 25 minutes.
“That’s not good enough,” Vaughan said.
It’s now England’s shortest innings under the Brendon McCullum/Ben Stokes leadership.
As a result of Khawaja’s absence, Marnus Labuschagne was promoted to partner debutant Jake Weatherald at the top of the order.
But it only got worse for the Aussies when Weatherald fell for a second-ball duck – and Khawaja was still unable to come to the crease due to the time restrictions.
Stokes left stunned by Starc special | 00:55
