Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has launched a scathing attack on Usman Khawaja after the opening batsman played 18 holes of golf just before his surprising absence from the batting lineup during the Perth Ashes Test.
Back Spasms Force Unexpected Absence
The 38-year-old Khawaja faced widespread criticism from fans, cricket experts and former greats after he failed to join Jake Weatherald to open Australia's first innings on Friday. The absence occurred because Khawaja had spent excessive time off the field receiving treatment for back spasms.
Further investigation revealed that Khawaja had not only played a full round of golf on Thursday but had also skipped a non-compulsory team training session. This revelation added significant fuel to the controversy surrounding his absence, with many Australian supporters branding his behaviour as 'selfish'.
Repeat Performance Raises Concerns
The drama intensified on Saturday when Khawaja was again unable to open the batting as his back problems resurfaced. His forced departure from the ground created an opportunity for Travis Head, who stepped in and delivered a magnificent, match-turning century of 123 runs from just 83 balls.
In a fiery newspaper column, Johnson expressed his disappointment with Khawaja's actions. "I'm not against players using golf as a way to switch off. But you've got to be professional too," the former paceman wrote.
Johnson highlighted that Khawaja reportedly played golf in Perth for three consecutive days leading into the first day of the Test match. "If I'd done that the day before a Test match, well, I couldn't imagine playing 18 holes of golf the day before a Test match," Johnson added.
Selection Pressure Mounts
Another respected former Australian fast bowler, Jason Gillespie, suggested that Khawaja could potentially lose his position to Head following the latter's outstanding performance. "There's every chance it could happen and the Australian selectors might pivot," Gillespie commented. "I think we've got to take some initiative there and that [promoting Head up the order] might be the answer."
The backlash against Khawaja spread rapidly across social media platforms, with Australian cricket fans expressing their frustration openly. One supporter wrote on X: "Usman Khawaja just cemented himself as the most selfish cricketer in the game," while another suggested, "Better rest him for the remainder of the series, I reckon."
However, the veteran batsman did find support from former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who maintained that "The future of the [batting] order doesn't change. He'll come back in for the next Test match... he will be back for the second Test, no doubt about that."
This isn't the first time Johnson has voiced strong opinions about Australian cricket stars. He was dismissed by Cricket Australia in December 2023 following an extraordinary criticism of David Warner, where Johnson argued that his former teammate didn't deserve a hero's farewell due to his involvement in the Sandpapergate scandal.
More recently, in June this year, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon responded after Johnson accused them of prioritising their individual careers over the best interests of the Test team.
