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Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja was critical of the Perth pitch where 19 wickets fell on the opening day of the first Ashes Test. The track at Optus stadium was nothing short of a paradise for pacers as they completey dominated over the batters, leading to the conclusion of almost two innings. After bundling out England for 172 runs, Australia themselves got restricted down to 123/9 by the end of Day 1.
Despite the match getting concluded in two days, the pitch was rated as "very good" by ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle. Khawaja remarkked that the pitch wasn't fair for the batters and pointed out how the same happened last year during Australia's match against India at the Optus stadium which saw 17 wickets fall on the opening day.
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"Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that's a great wicket - that seems real fair. The same thing happened last year in the Indian Test, it's just that day one wicket, the ball just does not react. 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, he's getting hit," Khawaja said at an event.
"You can't really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest - sideways is a little bit easier but up and down your hands can't catch up. So day one wicket at [Perth] is a piece of s***, I'm happy to say that. It has been last year, it was this year. They do get better. Day two, day three, and then day four, they start to crack up," he added.
Khawaja provides fitness update
Khawaja also provided an update regarding his fitness and said that he is confident about featuringg in the second Ashes Test that will be played in day-night format at The Gabba. This comes after the 39-year-old sustained neck spasms during the first Test and didn't come out to bat as an opener in both the innings.
"I feel good. I'd never experienced it before, but the last few days have been good. I've never had back spasms before, so it's been quite new for me. I've been quite lucky. I'm 39 years old [on December 18] and have always had a pretty solid back. Rachel, my wife, has been taking care of me - she's been letting me sleep in a fair bit actually, I've really been taking advantage of it. I should be right," Khawaja stated.
Australia name unchanged squad for 2nd Test
Meanwhile, Australia named an unchanged squad for the second Ashes Test that will commence from December 4 in Brisbane. With Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins still recovering from injuries, it remains to be seen if the bowling attack comprising of Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon and Brendan Doggett will able to come up with the goods once again or not.
Australia's squad for 2nd Ashes Test: Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
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