Former Aussie quick bowler Mitchell Johnson has blasted Usman Khawaja for taking part in 18 holes of golf the day earlier than the primary of his beautiful absences from the batting line-up within the Perth Ashes Check.
The 38-year-old was slammed by followers, consultants and greats of the sport after he failed to hitch Jake Weatherald to open Australia’s first innings on Friday as a result of he had spent too lengthy off the bottom receiving remedy for again spasms.
It was then revealed that Khawaja had performed 18 holes of golf on Thursday and skipped a non-compulsory crew coaching run, including gas to the fireplace over his absence and seeing him branded ‘egocentric’ by Aussie supporters.
The drama was repeated on Saturday when Khawaja could not open the batting as a result of his again had performed up once more, forcing him from the bottom and paving the way in which for Travis Head to supply an impressive, match-turning century in his place.
Johnson lashed out at Khawaja for letting his teammates and nation down in a fiery newspaper column.
‘I am not in opposition to gamers utilizing golf as a strategy to swap off. However you have to be skilled too,’ he wrote.
Former Aussie paceman Mitchell Johnson (pictured) has accused Usman Khawaja of being unprofessional and failing to do his job for Australia after the primary Ashes Check
Khawaja is pictured grimacing as he got here from the sector with again spasms on Saturday. It could be the second straight innings he was unavailable to open the batting for the Aussies
The 38-year-old (pictured with Steve Smith) has been slammed for taking part in 18 holes of golf earlier than day one of many first Ashes Check
‘Khawaja reportedly performed golf in Perth for 3 days in a row main into day one of many first Check.
‘If I would executed that the day earlier than a Check match, effectively, I could not think about taking part in 18 holes of golf the day earlier than a Check match.
‘I reckon Khawaja’s teammates who do not spend as a lot time on the golf course may not be sympathetic both.
‘You would fairly argue that the preparation contributed to the again spasms, and if that is the case, that is not doing all of your job for Australia.’
One other extremely regarded former Aussie paceman, Jason Gillespie, believes Khawaja might lose his spot to Head, who plundered 123 runs from simply 83 balls.
‘There’s each likelihood it might occur and the Australian selectors would possibly pivot,’ Gillespie mentioned.
‘I believe we have to take some initiative there and that [promoting Head up the order] is perhaps the reply.’
The backlash in opposition to Khawaja was swift, with Aussie followers venting on social media.
Khawaja’s spot on the prime of the batting order may very well be below severe menace after Travis Head stepped in for him and scored an exciting, match-turning century
Johnson is not recognized for holding again in the case of criticising his former teammates
‘Usman Khawaja simply cemented himself as essentially the most egocentric cricketer within the recreation,’ one wrote on X.
‘Higher relaxation him for the rest of the sequence, I reckon,’ added one other.
‘In different phrases, he isn’t 100% match and we had been screwed due to it. It is time to go please Ussie. You’ve got executed effectively coming again however we want youth and somebody who will rating greater than 10 runs a session,’ commented a 3rd.
‘If it took fielding within the slips for a few hours to ship his again into spasms, he is executed. Retire now. I can solely think about the turmoil it put in Weatherald’s thoughts in his first Check innings. Time to go…NOW,’ one other wrote.
Nonetheless, the veteran discovered an ally in former Check wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
‘The way forward for the [batting] order would not change,’ Haddin instructed Nine.
‘He’ll come again in for the following Check match … we witnessed one thing particular [from Head], it isn’t about Usman getting injured or having a again spasm – he might be again for the second Check, little doubt about that.’
Johnson isn’t any stranger to delivering unvarnished opinions about Aussie cricket stars.
He was sacked by Cricket Australia in December 2023 over a unprecedented assault on David Warner, by which he declared his former teammate did not deserve a hero’s farewell on the SCG due to his function within the Sandpapergate scandal.
In June this 12 months Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon hit again after Johnson accused them of placing their careers forward of what’s greatest for the Check crew.
