How 'careless miscalculation' led to Usman Khawaja not opening the batting for Australia in first Ashes Test against England in Perth
Updated 21/11/2025 at 10:26 GMT
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Everything went right for Australia early on Day 1 as they dismissed England for 172 in the first innings of the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series. However, their batting did not begin as planned, as regular opener Usman Khawaja did not walk out with Jake Weatherald and instead, Marnus Labuschagne opened the batting. TNT Sports' Alastair Cook said it was a "careless" miscalculation by Khawaja.
Watch: All ten England wickets as Starc runs through tourists in Perth
Video credit: TNT Sports
If there was one spot in the Australia team that looked set ahead of the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes, it was Usman Khawaja opening the batting.
But in the first Test in Perth, it was not Khawaja who came out to bat first as the hosts replied to England’s 172 all out.
Instead, it was usual No. 3, Marnus Labuschagne, who came out to open with debutant Jake Weatherald.
Weatherald was trapped lbw by Jofra Archer's second ball as Australia lost their first wicket in quick time.
But still, there was no sign of Khawaja as Steve Smith walked out to the middle.
The reason Khawaja didn't appear was because he spent too long off the field during England’s innings.
Australia captain Smith appeared to be aware of the situation as he was seen gesturing for Khawaja to get back on the field with England seven wickets down in the 31st over.
Khawaja did return two overs later, but England’s innings was then quickly over.
As per International Cricket Council Rules, if a player is off the field for an extended period of time, then they cannot bat before serving the equivalent amount of time after their team starts to bat.
"He came on too late and if you have a certain amount of time off the field, you can’t bat until that time has elapsed," explained TNT Sports' Alastair Cook.
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Watch: England fire back as Archer traps Weatherald second ball
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He has got his calculations wrong and if England had got one of their big guns out then Smith or Labuschagne would have been frustrated thinking, ‘I shouldn’t be out there’.
"It was a bit of a strange one to be quite so careless, or was it England’s collapse that caught them by surprise?"
Khawaja did come out to bat when Archer dismissed Labuschagne to leave Australia two down, but only lasted six balls as he was dismissed by an "absolute brute" from Brydon Carse.
Cricket Australia said after play finished that Khawaja had back spasms after "battling back stiffness through the day".
"Had a back spasm the second time he left the field," said a statement.
"Was stretching to overcome the spasm; unfortunate timing due to the manner of how the innings ended; did not have an injury prior to today."
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Watch: Carse gets Khawaja with 'absolute brute' as Australia go FOUR down
Video credit: TNT Sports
What do the ICC rules say?
Regarding extended breaks off the field and the implications, ICC rule 24.2.3 states: "If a player is absent from the field for longer than eight minutes, the following restrictions shall apply to their future participation in the match:
"The player shall not be permitted to bat in the match until his team’s batting innings has been in progress for the length of playing time that is equal to the unexpired penalty time carried forward from the previous innings.
"However, once his side has lost five wickets in its batting innings, he may bat immediately. If any unexpired penalty time remains at the end of that batting innings, it is carried forward to the next and subsequent innings of the match."
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