Khawaja’s Absence Sparks Chaos in Australia’s Ashes Opener
So, this whole situation with Usman Khawaja in the first Ashes Test turned into a storyline no one really expected—and honestly, it all unfolded in a way that felt both surprising and strangely avoidable. Let me walk you through it as if we’re chatting right now, because the chain of events was wild.
The moment that really set everything in motion happened late in England’s first innings. Australia were absolutely on top, thanks largely to a blistering spell from Mitchell Starc. He was in full demolition mode, tearing through England with a career-best 7 for 58. England collapsed for just 172, losing 5 for 12 in a span of three overs. But while all of that was happening, Khawaja had stepped off the field—not for anything dramatic, just a mix of bathroom breaks and stretching to shake off some stiffness.
Now, normally that wouldn't raise eyebrows, but here’s where the timing becomes everything. Under cricket’s laws, if a player is off the field for more than eight minutes, they can’t bat or bowl until they’ve spent the same amount of time back on the field. And because England’s collapse happened so quickly, Khawaja didn’t get that time back. So when Australia went out to bat, he simply wasn’t eligible to open.
Also Read:And that’s where poor Jake Weatherald had the rug pulled from under him.
Imagine this: you’re on Test debut, dreaming of walking out beside a seasoned opener like Khawaja, someone who offers calm, experience, and reassurance. Instead, Weatherald was suddenly thrust into the hot seat, facing Jofra Archer with a brand-new red ball under Ashes pressure. He hadn’t opened to the very first ball in any of his past 20 first-class innings, but here he was—no choice, no warning, just pure trial by fire.
He survived Archer’s first delivery, but the second one struck him flush on the pads as he lost balance and tumbled. England reviewed, the ball was shown crashing into the stumps, and just like that, his debut innings was over—a second-ball duck. And to make matters worse, Khawaja still couldn’t come out, so Steve Smith had to walk in at No.3 earlier than planned.
It wasn’t all gloom, though. Australia’s other debutant, Brendan Doggett, had a far better time. He bowled with pace, picked up two wickets, and even rattled Brydon Carse with a sharp bouncer. While Starc stole the headlines, Doggett earned plenty of respect with figures of 2 for 27.
Khawaja eventually did make it to the crease in the 15th over, looking slightly uncomfortable but composed. Still, the damage from those crucial minutes off the field had already shaped one of the day’s most dramatic storylines.
A small lapse in timing, but a huge impact on Australia’s opening act.
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