Usman Khawaja angers Australian Cricket; to be thrown out of the Ashes Midway?

Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja has responded to criticism surrounding his preparation for the Ashes 2025-26 series against England. Fans and former Australian cricketers raised questions about Khawaja's professionalism, especially after back spasms limited his time on the field during the first Test match.

Khawaja endured a tough outing in Perth, finishing the match with almost no runs. He was unable to open the batting in either innings of the Ashes opener due to back spasms. Travis Head smashed an aggressive century at the top, setting the tone for Australia’s dominant eight-wicket win over England.

Usman Khawaja’s Preparation for the First Ashes Test Under Scrutiny

Usman Khawaja’s preparation for the first Ashes Test has come under scrutiny. It was reported that he played golf on all three days before the match, even skipping an optional training session to take part in a pro-am round.

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Khawaja was dealing with back spasms during the match. The left-handed batter was forced not to bat in his usual opening role. According to ICC rules, he was prevented from batting until the same amount of time had passed. Khawaja walked in at No. 4 and scored just 2 runs.

Australia promoted Travis Head to the top in the second innings, and he smashed a brilliant century that guided the team to victory. Head’s performance has increased pressure on Khawaja ahead of the next Test in Brisbane.

Usman Khawaja’s Social Media Update Adds Fuel To the Debate About His Preparation

Usman Khawaja’s social media update added fuel to the ongoing debate about his preparation. After questions were raised about his training, he shared an Instagram carousel featuring a mix of moments from the week.

Khawaja shared a lakeside golf-course image with action shots of Mitchell Starc’s one-handed caught-and-bowled and Scott Boland celebrating a wicket, with the caption, “What a week! It had it all.” The choice of images sparked even more criticism, as many saw it as his indirect response to critics.

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A post shared by Usman Khawaja (@usman_khawajy)

Current and former cricketers poked fun at his Instagram post. Pat Cummins reacted with a golf-swing emoji, while David Warner wrote “Foreeeeee”. Former fast bowler Trent Copeland added laughing emojis.

From the Outside, It Doesn’t Look Great - Mitchell Johnson

Former Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson criticised Usman Khawaja’s preparation before the first Test. He stated that golf can help players unwind, but it should not come at the expense of professionalism.

“Everyone has their way of preparing, and I’m not against players using golf as a way to switch off. But you’ve got to be professional too. Khawaja reportedly played golf in Perth for three days in a row leading into day one of the first Test,” Johnson wrote in a column for The Nightly.

“And I reckon Khawaja’s teammates who don’t spend as much time on the golf course might not be sympathetic either. These little moments matter in elite sport. From the outside, it doesn’t look great."

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