We’ll never know what might have happened otherwise.
But Australia’s disastrous first innings performance against England began in the most calamitous of ways with veteran opener Usman Khawaja forced to watch from the stands after a serious timing miscalculation by the Australian camp.
Having spent 19 minutes off the field towards the end of the England first innings—which ended rapidly thanks to the superb efforts of Mitchell Starc—Khawaja had to wait out the early overs of the Australian innings, forcing Marnus Labuschagne to partner Test debutant Jake Weatherald at the top of the order.
Even worse, when Weatherald was out for a second-ball duck to Jofra Archer, Khawaja was still ineligible to take the field, forcing Steve Smith to the crease.
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Speaking on ABC Sport, former Australian Test player Tom Moody was highly critical of the the way Khawaja’s situation was managed.
“I’m stunned—to gamble on the fact that he could come back on the field when England is eight down (is a huge risk),” Moody said.
“That is beyond a joke, he is our most experienced top-order player and we needed Khawaja at the front to lead the batting unit into this series.
“You do not take the risk knowing you’re right on the cusp of bowling England out.”
Khawaja's absence from the field was initially attributed to ‘toilet breaks and stretching’, however Cricket Australia later revealed the 38-year-old had also experienced back spasms.
Ironically, despite all the talk about Australia’s openers leading into this Test, Khawaja’s was the one spot that seemed settled.