Usman Khawaja had called the Perth pitch a “piece of s***”. Cricket Australia has reportedly asked him to explain his comment.
What happened in Perth?
After being bowled out for 172, England had Australia at 123-9 at stumps on day one after Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat. The 19 wickets on the first day’s cricket raised some eyebrows and drew comments from the Indian cricket fraternity.
The Test changed complexion on the second day. After securing a 40-run lead, England collapsed from 65-1 to 164, after which Travis Head smashed one of the greatest Ashes hundreds of all time to help Australia seal a chase of 205 in only 28.2 overs – making it a rare two-day Test match that got over in 847 balls.
ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle gave a “very good” rating (the highest possible under the ICC guidelines) to the Perth Stadium pitch.
“A piece of s***”
Khawaja had left the field 23 minutes before the England first innings ended and did not return to field. That prevented him from opening (or batting at No.3, since Jake Weatherald lasted only two balls). However, he did bat at two-drop and make a six-ball two. He did not bat in the second innings at all (which was why Head opened in the first place).
He criticised the Perth pitch at an event for the Usman Khawaja Foundation the day after the ICC rating became public. “Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that’s a great wicket – that seems real fair. The same thing happened last year in the Indian Test: it’s just that day one wicket, the ball just does not react.
“Steve Smith’s by far the best cricketer I’ve ever played with and he’s missing the middle of his bat by a long way. He does not miss the middle of his bat. He’s getting hit in the elbow, he’s getting hit.” Stepping in as captain for the injured Pat Cummins, Smith made 17 and an unbeaten two.
“You can’t really predict up and down. Up and down [movement] is the hardest. Sideways is a little bit easier, but up and down, your hands can’t catch up. So day one wicket at [Perth] is a piece of s***, I’m happy to say that. It has been last year [against India], it was this year.”
CA ask Khawaja to explain
According to several reports, Cricket Australia have now asked Khawaja to explain his comments about the Perth pitch. As per the reports, “disappointed” board officials will meet him this week and ask him to explain his comments.
Australia have included Khawaja in the squad for the second Test match, a day-nighter at Brisbane, to start on December 4.
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