The 2025-26 Ashes opener lasted just two days, with Australia registering a thumping eight-wicket victory over England at Perth Stadium.
Despite the Test finishing with three days to spare, the ICC gave the Perth pitch a “very good” rating, denoting good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent early bounce.
However, Australia opener Usman Khawaja, who has retained his place for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, voiced his disappointment with the pitch served for the Perth Test.
Australia gained a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series after their fast bowlers ran through the England batting line-up twice, setting up 205-run chase, which was achieved late on Day 2 on the back of Travis Head’s brutal 123 off 83 balls.
"Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that's a great wicket - that seems real fair," Khawaja said at an event for his Usman Khawaja Foundation, a charity which helps support children from diverse, rural and low socio-economic backgrounds.
"The same thing happened last year in the Indian Test, it's just that day one wicket, the ball just does not react. Steve Smith's by far the best cricketer I've ever played with and he's missing the middle of his bat by a long way - he does not miss the middle of his bat. He's getting hit in the elbow, he's getting hit."
"You can't really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest - sideways is a little bit easier but up and down, your hands can't catch up. So day one wicket at (Perth) is a piece of s***, I'm happy to say that. It has been last year, it was this year. They do get better. Day two, day three, and then day four, they start to crack up."
In remains to be seen the conditions that will be on offer for the day-night fixture in Brisbane, but Khawaja remains confident he will be fit to return to the XI.
Notably, Khawaja was unable to open in either innings of Perth Test because of back spasms. In his absence, Head slammed a dazzling century at the top of the order in second innings.
"I feel good. I'd never experienced it before, but the last few days have been good. I've never had back spasms before, so it's been quite new for me. I've been quite lucky. I'm 39 years old (on December 18) and have always had a pretty solid back. Rachel, my wife, has been taking care of me - she's been letting me sleep in a fair bit actually, I've really been taking advantage of it. I should be right," Khawaja remarked.
(With IANS Inputs)
