{"id":300855,"date":"2025-11-22T05:58:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T05:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/300855\/"},"modified":"2025-11-22T05:58:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T05:58:21","slug":"the-ashes-ca-boss-has-no-issue-with-usman-khawaja-playing-golf-a-day-before-first-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/300855\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ashes: CA boss has no issue with Usman Khawaja playing golf a day before first Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cricket<\/a> Australia chief Todd Greenberg said he has no issue with opening batter Usman Khawaja playing golf the day before the first Test.<\/p>\n

Khawaja was one of the biggest talking points<\/a> from a chaotic first day in Perth that saw 19 wickets fall.<\/p>\n

The veteran was not allowed to open the batting<\/a> after spending too long off the field during England\u2019s first innings as he struggled with back spasms.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

It meant Marnus Labuschagne had to open alongside debutant Jake Weatherald, and Steve Smith was forced to come in at No.3.<\/p>\n

Weatherald fell for a second-ball duck, Labuschagne struggled on the way to nine off 41 balls while Smith copped a series of blows on the way to 17.<\/p>\n

\"UsmanUsman Khawaja was not allowed to open the batting. Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

Khawaja made just two batting at No.4, meaning he has now failed to post a half-century in his past 11 Test innings.<\/p>\n

It later emerged that Khawaja played 18 holes of golf on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Many fans questioned the decision to play golf on Test eve, with even 7AFL commentator Kane Cornes making his thoughts known.<\/p>\n

\u201cElite professionalism, a nearly 39-year-old warming up for a fierce Test with 18 holes of golf. Who would\u2019ve predicted that outcome?\u201d he tweeted.<\/p>\n

But Greenberg said it\u2019s pretty common for cricketers to play golf a day out from a Test match. He even noted that Mitchell Starc also played and it didn\u2019t affect his performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s held him in good stead over the last couple of years,\u201d Greenberg said on SEN.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf day prior. A lot of people talk about cricket being played between the ears, and so getting some time away from being in your hotel or training, I think is really important.<\/p>\n

\u201cI noticed Mitch Starc played golf with him, so it certainly didn\u2019t impact his performance. Did that correlate to any of the issues?<\/p>\n

\u201cI personally don\u2019t think so. I think Usman\u2019s a very seasoned campaigner. He knows his body well, and he knows how to get himself prepared for cricket, and he\u2019s done it over a long period of time. So I think that\u2019s drawing a long bow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starc, who took an amazing seven wickets on Day 1, also defended his teammate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s interesting. There\u2019s a lot of opinions from people that aren\u2019t in the change room. So we\u2019ll let the opinions be the opinions, we know what\u2019s going on in the change room,\u201d Starc told SEN on Saturday<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was unfortunate that that was the case. He had a back spasm. There\u2019s not much you can do about that.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, yeah, look, it is what it is. That\u2019s the innings done. Now he\u2019s assessed that overnight, and I think I\u2019ve seen him this morning, he sounds like he\u2019s moving OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

– With AAP<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Truth emerges after Usman Khawaja\u2019s mystery absence sparks collapse<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

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Aussies turn on own stars after Ashes horror show: \u2018Retire\u2019<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

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