Cricket Australia officials are set for a showdown meeting with opening batsman Usman Khawaja this week, demanding an explanation for his scathing criticism of the Perth Stadium pitch that he labelled a "piece of s***". The confrontation comes as cricket authorities weigh up potential sanctions against the veteran player.
Explosive Comments at Foundation Lunch
Khawaja raised eyebrows across the cricketing world on Friday when he unleashed his blistering assessment of the surface used for the first Test, delivered at a fundraising luncheon for his Usman Khawaja Foundation. The outburst came just one day after the International Cricket Council had awarded the pitch its highest possible rating of "very good".
The Test veteran didn't hold back in his criticism, pointing to the wicket's variable bounce during Australia's comprehensive eight-wicket victory. Khawaja highlighted concerning statistics, noting that 19 wickets fell on the opening day of this year's match against England, following 17 wickets on day one during last year's series opener between Australia and India.
CA Disappointment and Potential Consequences
Cricket Australia officials have expressed significant disappointment with Khawaja's remarks and plan to address the matter directly when the team assembles for camp ahead of the second Ashes Test at Brisbane's Gabba. The timing adds another layer of complexity to Khawaja's situation, with pressure already mounting on his position at the top of the batting order.
The Perth Test match itself made unfortunate history, becoming the shortest Test played on Australian soil in 93 years and the second shortest ever in the country. The entire match concluded after just 847 balls were bowled, raising questions about pitch quality despite the ICC's positive assessment.
Khawaja's Detailed Critique
Khawaja provided detailed justification for his harsh assessment during his fundraising appearance. "Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit. That's a great wicket, that seems real fair," the opener remarked sarcastically.
He pointed to the struggles of even the team's best batsmen, noting: "Steve Smith's by far the best cricketer I've ever played with and he's missing the middle of his bat by a long way. He does not miss the middle of his bat, yet he's getting hit in the elbow."
Khawaja's main concern centred on unpredictable bounce, which he described as particularly challenging for batsmen. "You can't really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest. Sideways is little bit easier," he explained. "But up and down, your hands can't catch up."
The 38-year-old did acknowledge that Perth pitches typically improve as matches progress, stating: "They do get better. Day two, day three and then day four, they start to crack up and cure again."
Contrasting Official Views
Cricket Australia had publicly praised the wicket earlier in the week, with chief of cricket James Allsopp stating that the ICC's rating justified head office's view that the pitch provided "a fair balance between bat and ball".
The ICC rating also highlighted England's poor batting performance, which former England opener Geoffrey Boycott described as "brainless" after the tourists managed just 68.3 overs across both innings.
Despite the official positions, Khawaja remained adamant that the Perth pitch wasn't up to standard, particularly for the opening day of Test matches. His comments have created an awkward situation for cricket administrators as they prepare for the crucial Gabba Test.
The meeting with CA officials comes at a challenging time for Khawaja personally, with concerns emerging about both his fitness and form following the Perth match. Back spasms prevented him from opening the batting in either innings, creating an opportunity for Travis Head to score a match-winning century in the fourth-innings chase.
Khawaja has expressed confidence that he'll be fit for the Brisbane Test, noting his back condition has improved significantly. He also insisted he hasn't paid attention to calls for his dropping from the side, with suggestions that Head should be promoted to open the batting.
