Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has thrown his support behind opening batter Usman Khawaja, defending the veteran's decision to play golf the day before the first Test against England in Perth.
Chaotic Opening Day Sees 19 Wickets Fall
The first day of the Test match proved exceptionally dramatic with 19 wickets tumbling throughout the day's play. Khawaja found himself at the centre of attention after being unable to open the batting due to suffering back spasms during England's first innings.
The experienced batsman had spent too much time off the field receiving treatment, forcing an unexpected reshuffle of Australia's batting order. Marnus Labuschagne was promoted to open alongside debutant Jake Weatherald, while Steve Smith was pushed up to bat at number three.
Batting Struggles Across the Board
The makeshift opening combination struggled significantly against England's bowling attack. Weatherald fell for a second-ball duck, while Labuschagne laboured to nine runs from 41 deliveries before being dismissed.
Steve Smith endured a difficult time at the crease, copping several blows on his way to 17 runs. When Khawaja eventually batted at number four, he managed just two runs, extending his poor form to 11 consecutive Test innings without a half-century.
Golf Session Sparks Debate
Revelations that Khawaja had played 18 holes of golf on Thursday, the day before the Test match, prompted criticism from fans and commentators alike. 7AFL commentator Kane Cornes questioned the decision on social media, tweeting: "Elite professionalism, a nearly 39-year-old warming up for a fierce Test with 18 holes of golf. Who would've predicted that outcome?"
However, Greenberg immediately came to the batsman's defence, noting that Mitchell Starc also played golf and delivered an outstanding performance, taking seven wickets on the first day.
"It's held him in good stead over the last couple of years," Greenberg stated during an interview with SEN radio. "It's 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."
The Cricket Australia CEO emphasized that Khawaja is a seasoned professional who understands his body and preparation requirements better than outside observers.
Teammates Rally Behind Khawaja
Mitchell Starc, who emerged as the day's bowling hero, also defended his teammate when speaking to SEN on Saturday. "It's interesting. There's a lot of opinions from people that aren't in the change room. So we'll let the opinions be the opinions, we know what's going on in the change room," Starc commented.
The fast bowler described Khawaja's back spasm as an unfortunate situation beyond anyone's control. "He had a back spasm. There's not much you can do about that," Starc added, noting that Khawaja had been assessed overnight and appeared to be moving better the following morning.
The incident has sparked broader conversations about player preparation and recovery methods in modern cricket, with opinions divided on whether recreational activities like golf have any impact on professional performance during Test matches.
