Australia surprised everyone at the start of their first innings in the Perth Ashes Test when Marnus Labuschagne walked out to open, partnering debutant Jake Weatherald. The change came after Usman Khawaja was not permitted to open due to time spent off the field earlier in the day.
ICC regulations state that if a player spends extended time off the field during the opposition’s innings, they must spend an equal amount of time back on the field before being allowed to bat. As Khawaja had not fulfilled this requirement when Australia began their reply, the umpires informed the team that he could not take his usual opening position.
This forced Australia to reshuffle the order, with Labuschagne moving up to face the new ball. Khawaja will be eligible to bat only after completing the mandatory time-on-field requirement.
The unusual opening pair of Weatherald–Labuschagne marked a rare moment in Ashes cricket, especially at home, and added another twist to a gripping opening day.
