Australia Told To Axe Player After Incident During First Ashes Test

Australia have been told to drop one player from their XI ahead of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, despite winning the first Test by eight wickets.

Travis Head smashed 123 off just 83 balls as Australia successfully chased down a fourth-innings target of 205 in Perth.

They did so in just 28.2 overs, having bowled England out for 164 in their second innings.

Their preparations were significantly impacted ahead of the Test match, with key bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to injury.

Australia captain Cummins told Fox Sports that he is 'on track' with his staged return to bowling following a back stress fracture, but he and Hazlewood remain doubts to return in time for the day-night second Test in Brisbane.

It wasn't exactly smooth sailing on the field for the hosts, who were captained by Steve Smith in Cummins' absence.

Towards the end of England's first innings, Usman Khawaja left the field for what Cricket Australia initially described as 'toilet breaks and stretching'.

But he only returned for a short period before England were all out, with Ben Stokes' side suffering a late-order collapse to lose their final five wickets in the space of 18 balls.

Under ICC regulations, therefore, Khawaja had to wait 10 minutes before being able to bat as he had not spent an equal amount of time back on the field as he had off it.

That meant he was unable to assume his usual opening spot for Australia's first innings.

The 38-year-old came out at four, but could only make two runs before gloving a Brydon Carse bouncer to wicket-keeper Jamie Smith - though replays showed he was incorrectly given out as he had his glove off the bat when the ball made contact.

Cummins would later state that Khawaja had suffered from back spasms while fielding that required treatment.

Cricket Australia confirmed that his injury was new and not something he had suffered from in the build-up to the Test match.

In England's second innings, Khawaja appeared to tweak his back while fielding at slip and left the field, again failing to make his return before the tourists were bowled out for 164.

Having shifted Marnus Labuschagne up from three to open in the first innings, Australia changed their approach and instead sent out Head to bat alongside Tasmanian debutant Jake Weatherald in what proved to be a match-winning decision.

There was criticism of Khawaja when it was reported that he played golf on each of the three days prior to the first Test, including skipping Thursday's optional practice session to tee off alongside bowlers Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.

Golf has long been sanctioned by Cricket Australia, whose CEO Todd Greenburg launched a staunch defence of the opener by stating: "[Golf] has held him in good stead over the last couple of years. It's not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf a day prior.

"Did that correlate to any of the issues? I personally don't think so. Usman's a very seasoned campaigner, he knows his body well, and he knows how to get himself prepared for cricket."

Khawaja has been one of the most successful batters in the modern era for Australia, averaging over 43 across 85 Tests, but there have been question marks among supporters about his place in the team in recent months.

After hitting a career-best 232 against Sri Lanka in Galle in January, he hasn't scored a half-century in six Test matches.

Weatherald ultimately won the race to open alongside the 38-year-old in the Ashes, fending off rival Matt Renshaw for a place in the squad.

But amid discussions about Khawaja, Renshaw has offered the selectors a timely reminder that he is waiting in the wings by scoring 112 - notably during a day-night match - for state side Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.

Renshaw, who was born in Yorkshire, has averaged 29 across 14 Test matches since making his debut in 2016, but hasn't been selected since 2023.

During the last Australian summer, selectors chose Nathan McSweeney and then Sam Konstas to partner Khawaja at the top of the order, and while Konstas scored an enterprising 60 on Test debut against India, he has since struggled for runs at both international and domestic level.

And fans are now convinced that Renshaw or Head should be called upon to open in Brisbane - even if Khawaja is passed fit.

One wrote: "I'd chew my arm off to see Renshaw play at the Gabba."

A second said: "Has to come in for Uzzy. Not sure what else he needs to do."

A third added: "Either Matt Renshaw or Travis Head must open at the Gabba. Time to make the call on Usman Khawaja."

While a fourth said: "Usman deserves a swan song but I don't think it should be this Ashes. Bring in Matt Renshaw. Get him to open with Head."