Khawaja’s blunt pitch verdict puts Cricket Australia on edge
The aftermath of Australia’s eight-wicket win in the first Ashes Test has shifted focus off the field, as veteran opener Usman Khawaja faces a formal meeting with Cricket Australia officials over scathing public comments about the Perth pitch.
Khawaja, who made the remarks while speaking at a fundraiser for the Usman Khawaja Foundation, took direct aim at the conditions on Day 1 of the match, describing the surface as unpredictable and dangerous.
According to a report by Sen Cricket, Cricket Australia officials were not satisfied with the Australian opener’s comments. They will meet with Usman Khawaja this week and ask him to explain himself over his criticism of the Perth pitch.
The criticism came despite match referee Ranjan Madugalle awarding the pitch a “very good” rating—the highest possible from the ICC. Khawaja, however, offered a searingly different view.
Foundation event becomes platform for fiery pitch criticism
Speaking at the Usman Khawaja Foundation event, the left-hander did not hold back.
“Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that’s a great wicket, that seems real fair,” Usman Khawaja said at the Usman Khawaja Foundation event.
He pointed to the difficulties even elite players like Steve Smith faced during the match. “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. He’s getting hit in the elbow.”
Khawaja didn’t stop there, delivering the line that has since drawn widespread attention and scrutiny. “So, day one wicket at (Perth) is a piece of s**t, I’m happy to say that. It has been last year; it was this year.”
Khawaja cites repeat problems with bounce and movement
In elaborating on his concerns, Khawaja recalled similar conditions from past matches at the same venue. “The same thing happened last year in the India Test. It’s just that day-one wicket, the ball just does not react.”
He also explained what makes such bounce especially difficult to manage for batters. “You can’t really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest. Sideways is little bit easier, but up and down, your hands can’t catch up.”
Despite his strong language, Khawaja offered context on how the pitch tends to evolve through the Test. “They do get better. Day two, day three, and then day four, they start to crack up and cure again. We know day two, day three is usually the best time to bat.”
He added that this has become part of Australia’s tactical thinking whenever they play in Perth. “Whenever we play at Perth, it’s one of the few places we win the toss, bat first, hoping that we can bat again maybe at the end of day two and into day three.”
ICC and CA back the pitch as fair; Khawaja stands firm
While Khawaja’s comments have stirred controversy, Cricket Australia has so far backed the surface. Chief of cricket James Allsopp noted the ICC’s “very good” rating as evidence the pitch offered “a fair balance between bat and ball.”
The Perth Test was the shortest completed Test in Australia in 93 years, lasting just 847 balls. Yet CA’s praise for the pitch contrasted sharply with Khawaja’s criticism, setting the stage for the upcoming meeting between the player and board officials.
As Khawaja prepares for the second Test at the Gabba, the fallout from his foundation event remarks adds a layer of tension to what has already been an intense Ashes series.
