As England‘s innings ended, AustraliaDuring this time the opening batsman was expected to come to the crease. Ashes 2025-26 first day of test In Perth. However, Usman KhawajaJoe, who was supposed to open, was notably absent when Australia began their response. marnus labuschagne He was sent to the top order in place of Khawaja.
Reason for Usman Khawaja not opening for Australia on the first day of the Ashes 2025-26 Test against England
Khawaja’s absence from the field during the closing stages of England’s innings led to a last-minute reshuffle in Australia’s batting order. Khawaja, who was off the field for almost half an hour, was unable to return in time to meet the requirement of spending a minimum of 23 minutes on the field before taking his place as opener. The delay was caused by a stomach problem due to which Khawaja could not fully recover in time for his usual role at the top.
The team needed to act quickly as England’s wickets fell, it was clear that Khawaja would not be able to make a comeback in time. As a result, marnus labuschagne was tasked with filling in at the top of the order with debutant Jake WeatheraldAlthough the move is a temporary adjustment, it has shaken up the carefully planned batting lineup, After completing the mandatory time on the field, Khawaja will have to wait for his turn to bat, leaving Labuschagne to take the important stand of the first innings,
If you are wondering why Usman Khawaja was not opening, he was out of the field for too long, so he was sent back down the order. And a rule stating that he must wait ten minutes before being allowed out meant that when Weatherold was dismissed at second he could not go out to bat at number three… pic.twitter.com/D2rmJGFZXR
– ABC Sport (@abcsport) 21 November 2025
Ashes 2025-26: Australia’s steady response after England’s defeat on day one of Perth Test
Australia were in trouble after England were bowled out for 172 in just 32.5 overs. Despite the early defeat of Weatherald, who was bowled out for a duck jofra archerAustralia’s response began cautiously. with marnus labuschagne (4 out of 23) and captain steven smith (3 of 22) At the crease, the hosts looked to rebuild slowly and take their time on a pitch that had proved difficult for both sides.
After England’s defeat, Australia fell behind by 164 runs and came to the crease to start their innings. The conditions which led to England’s collapse continued to assist the bowlers, with both Archer and Atkinson gaining pace off the pitch. Archer struck early and sent the Australian openers back to the drawing board by trapping Weatherold LBW for duck. Despite the early pressure, Labuschagne and Smith showed signs of resilience. Both players, although not scoring at a fast pace, kept their wickets and aimed to make a steady start to a long innings. The lack of runs meant Australia got off to a slow start, with only 8 runs on the board after 8 overs, but the longer they stay at the crease, the more comfortable they will become in what is a tough Test match.