The selected Usman Khawaja was replaced in the middle by rookie Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne when the Australian innings started. On the first morning of the 2025–26 Ashes opener in Perth, Australia defeated England for 172 in just 32.5 overs thanks to a spectacular seven-for from Mitchell Starc, while Usman Khawaja was not available to bat.
The veteran was not allowed to bat because of the length of time he was out of the field during England’s innings. Khawaja was taken off the pitch for “toilet breaks and stretching” near the end of England’s innings, according to ABC Sport.
A player cannot bat before serving the corresponding amount of time on the pitch once their team starts to bat, according to ICC regulations, if they are off the pitch for an extended period of time. After a Jofra Archer snorter sent Weatherald back for a duck on the second ball of Australia’s response, Khawaja’s stay off the pitch was long enough to prevent him from opening or even coming out at No. 3.
ICC rule on Usman Khawaja’s circumstances
According to ICC rule 24.2.3, a player’s ability to participate in the game in the future will be restricted if they are off the field for more than eight minutes.
Furthermore, 24.2.3.2 specifies that the player cannot bat in the game until his team’s batting innings has taken place for the amount of playing time equal to the remaining penalty time from the previous innings. But he can bat right away after his team has lost five wickets in its batting innings. The remaining penalty time at the conclusion of that batting innings is carried over to the following and subsequent innings of the game.
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