Australian media savaged the underwhelming show of their batsman on a blistering first day of the opening Ashes Take a look at and conceded their defence is already in ‘complete disarray’.
The hosts staggered to 123 for 9 at stumps on the primary day in Perth, nonetheless 49 runs behind England’s 172, regardless of Mitchell Starc’s profession greatest figures of seven for 58.
Whereas England’s tempo assault grabbed headlines in Britain, the Australian focus turned inward, with Usman Khawaja on the centre of a storm over his absence firstly of the innings.
Khawaja, who had left the sector late in England’s innings, was barred from opening the batting due to ‘rest room breaks and stretching’. Nevertheless, it later emerged that he had been coping with again stiffness, resulting in a major delay earlier than he may return to the sector.
The weird episode left Australian nice Tom Moody livid, whereas the entrance web page of The West Australian carried that declare that Khawaja had spent the eve of the primary Take a look at enjoying a spherical of golf – the complete 18 holes.
‘Mulligan’, learn the headline of the scathing entrance web page. ‘Aussie batters – and the Ashes defence – in complete disarray after Usman Khawaja was compelled of the sector struggling again spasms – a day after enjoying 18 holes of golf, on the eve of the primary Take a look at.’ A mulligan in golf is a free, further shot taken after a poor shot, with out penalty.
Australian media savaged the underwhelming show of their batsman on a blistering first day of the opening Ashes Take a look at
Usman Khawaja was on the centre of a storm over his absence firstly of the innings
The problem left Steve Smith coming in at quantity three as an alternative, because the Australian high order descended into disarray
Khawaja had come off on the finish of the twenty ninth over and didn’t return till the thirty third, spending 19 minutes off the sector whereas England misplaced three wickets throughout that interval.
Beneath the legal guidelines of cricket, a participant off the sector for greater than eight minutes can not bat or bowl till they’ve been again on for a similar period of time.
Khawaja returned with solely seven minutes fielded earlier than Starc cleaned up the ultimate two wickets, that means he couldn’t legally take his place as opener.
Consequently, Take a look at debutant Jake Weatherald was compelled to face the primary ball alongside Marnus Labuschagne, regardless of Khawaja being named to open within the beginning XI.
Weatherald was dismissed for a second ball duck by Jofra Archer after a DRS evaluation, earlier than Khawaja was nonetheless unable to enter because of the time restriction.
It left Steve Smith coming in at quantity three as an alternative, because the Australian high order descended into disarray throughout the first few overs of their reply.
Moody labelled the scenario ‘poor administration… past a joke… like Starc led the assault we wanted Uzzie to guide the batting’.
David Warner additionally raised considerations about Khawaja’s health as soon as he finally walked to the crease, saying: ‘He simply appears a bit stiff… I sense a little bit little bit of discomfort there.’
Nobody may query the contribution of Mitchell Starc, who produced career-best figures of seven for 58
Starc’s seven for 58 bowled England out inside 33 overs, the shortest accomplished innings of the Bazball period, but Australia failed to take advantage of their early dominance.
Ben Stokes then spearheaded England’s fightback with 5 wickets, with Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse taking two every in a relentless night session.
A crowd of greater than 51,000 at Perth Stadium watched as Australia misplaced 9 wickets in a single day, regardless of having been in management hours earlier.
The drama now leaves Australia going through a frightening second morning, nonetheless trailing by 49 runs with just one wicket remaining.
