Ashes 2025-26: Why didn't Usman Khawaja open for Australia in Perth? - Explained

Published - 21 Nov 2025, 12:47 IST | Updated - 21 Nov 2025, 12:51 IST

Usman Khawaja did not come out to bat on the first morning of the 2025-26 Ashes opener in Perth after Australia routed England for 172 in merely 32.5 overs courtesy of Mitchell Starc’s sensational seven-for. When Australian innings commenced, it was debutant Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne who appeared in the middle instead of the designated Khawaja.

The reason behind the veteran’s absence was the extended time he spent off the field during England’s innings, making him ineligible to bat. Khawaja had been off the field towards the end of England’s innings for “toilet breaks and stretching”, according to ABC Sport.

As per ICC regulations, if a player stays off the field for an extended period, then they cannot bat before serving the equivalent amount of time on the field after their team commences to bat. Khawaja’s time off the field was long enough to deny him a chance to open or even come out at No.3 after a Jofra Archer snorter sent Weatherald back for a duck on just the second ball of Australia’s response, with Steve Smith coming in to join Labuschagne.

As per ICC rule: 24.2.3: If a player is absent from the field for longer than 8 minutes, the following restrictions shall apply to their future participation in the match:

Additionally, 24.2.3.2 states that: The player shall not be permitted to bat in the match until his team’s batting innings has been in progress for the length of playing time that is equal to the unexpired Penalty time carried forward from the previous innings. However, once his side has lost five wickets in its batting innings, he may bat immediately. If any unexpired penalty time remains at the end of that batting innings, it is carried forward to the next and subsequent innings of the match.

Speaking of the match, Starc's exceptional seven-for dismantled England as they were folded for an unimposing total after opting to bat first. Starc bagged a career-best 7 for 58, including the dismissals of openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett as well as England's mainstay Joe Root.