Usman Khawaja’s delayed arrival at the crease and his noticeably discomforted walk to the middle have raised fresh concerns about his fitness during the opening day of the Ashes 1st Test in Perth.
Khawaja, who was barred from opening due to serving penalty time for spending extended periods off the field, finally came out to bat at 28/2 — but what followed immediately caught attention. The opener walked out gingerly, appeared physically strained, and did not look anywhere close to his 100% self.
According to those close to the Australian camp, Khawaja is battling an illness and has been feeling unwell since the morning session. That explains why he repeatedly left the field earlier in the day — first for a toilet break, then for a hand issue, and later due to back discomfort, all of which combined to trigger the time penalty under ICC rules.
Now, as he finally takes guard, Khawaja’s body language tells its own story. His movements are stiff, his footwork looks restricted, and he is visibly cautious against Brydon Carse, who has immediately targeted him with round-the-wicket angle and probing lengths.
While there is no official word from Cricket Australia confirming the exact nature of his illness, team sources indicate it is not serious enough to rule him out, but clearly enough to affect his energy and mobility at the crease.
For now, Australia will hope their veteran opener can grind through the discomfort — but there is no doubt he is far from fully fit, and his condition will remain a major talking point as the innings progresses.
