Australian cricket legend Jason Gillespie has launched a stinging rebuke of Usman Khawaja, accusing the retiring Test batter of throwing a "temper tantrum" after Khawaja attributed media backlash over a back injury to racial stereotyping.
Khawaja's Retirement Press Conference Sparks Controversy
The fiery exchange stems from comments made by Khawaja at his emotional retirement press conference on Friday, January 2, 2026. The veteran opener took direct aim at the media and former players for their treatment of him after he suffered back spasms early in the first Ashes Test in Perth.
The injury emerged after Khawaja had played several rounds of golf in the days leading up to the crucial match, prompting public scrutiny over his preparation. Khawaja expressed his frustration at the prolonged and personal nature of the criticism.
"I hurt my back, I had back spasms, and it’s something I couldn’t control," Khawaja said. "The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me — I could’ve copped it for two days, but I copped it for about five days straight."
He went further, linking the commentary to deep-seated prejudices. "It was quite personal in terms of things like ‘he’s not committed to the team, he’s only worried about himself, he played this golf comp the day before, he’s selfish'. These are the same stereotypes, the racial stereotypes, I’ve grown up with my whole life," Khawaja stated.
Gillespie's Forceful Rebuttal
In response, Jason Gillespie – himself a trailblazer as the first Indigenous man to play Test cricket for Australia – offered a pointed rebuttal. While speaking to the ABC, Gillespie was careful to separate the issue of racism from questions of professional accountability.
"I’ve actually always admired him and applauded him for speaking up because racism is a big stain on our society, and it always needs to be called out," Gillespie said, acknowledging Khawaja's lifelong experiences.
However, he insisted that questioning a player's preparation before a major Test match was a fair and normal part of professional sport. "A few former players came out and quite rightly questioned whether that (playing golf) was the best possible preparation," Gillespie argued.
"Being questioned over that and being held to account over your choices, that’s not bullying, it’s not abuse, that’s all part and parcel of being a professional. You can’t really throw a temper tantrum when asked to take accountability for the job you’re actually paid to do."
A Clash of Perspectives on Scrutiny and Stereotypes
Gillespie also challenged Khawaja's specific claim about being labelled "lazy" in the media coverage of the incident. "I haven’t seen anything in the media that’s been said or written by anyone that’s referenced Usman being lazy, so I’m not sure where that’s come from," he remarked.
He drew a parallel to the intense scrutiny faced by the England team, who entered the Ashes series with only one practice match against their own reserves. "I think the media in this space have been very consistent throughout this Ashes series," Gillespie concluded, suggesting the spotlight on Khawaja was not exceptional.
The public disagreement highlights the complex intersection of professional critique, personal perception, and the enduring shadow of racial bias in Australian sport, even as one of its modern icons steps away from the game.
