6 days ago
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Usman Khawaja has pulled out of the upcoming Australian Open Pro-Am after the batsman copped heavy criticism for playing golf in the build-up to his side's opening Ashes Test against England.
The 38-year-old was deemed ineligible to open the batting for Australia after having spent too much time off the field during England's first innings, receiving treatment for back spasms.
It was later reported that Khawaja had played a round of golf on the eve of the opening Test in Perth, with many Aussies left fuming by the revelation.
'I'm not against players using golf as a way to switch off. But you've got to be professional too,' Aussie cricket great Mitchell Johnson wrote in his column in The West Australian.
Ahead of the second Test in Brisbane, Khawaja had been set to join one of many other Aussie sporting stars competing at the Australian Open Pro-Am, which is set to take place at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, on Wednesday, December 3, the day before proceedings get underway at The Gabba on December 4.
However, the Australian PGA confirmed to this masthead on Monday that Khawaja has since pulled out of the pre-tournament event, after this weekend's opening Test.
Usman Khawaja has pulled out of the upcoming Australian Open Pro-Am after the batsman copped heavy criticism for playing golf in the build-up to his side's opening Ashes Test against England
Khawaja (pictured left with Steve Smith) had been inelligible to open the batting for Australia after spending too much time off the field with back spasms
Khawaja published the above image on his Instagram account, throwing a cheeky dig back at his critics
Australian Open bosses have today also confirmed some of the star-studded names who will take on Royal Melbourne as part of the Pro-Am. Khawaja was nowhere to be seen on the promotion. Brisbane Broncos premiership heroes Adam Reynolds, Jesse Arthars and Kotoni Staggs were all included while Brisbane Lions stars Cameron Rayner and Charlie Cameron were also listed.
It comes as Khawaja has thrown a very cheeky dig back at his critics on social media, with the Queensland batsman publishing a series of images of himself and his side beating England during the first Test on Instagram.
The final picture on the Instagram slideshow was an image of a golf course, with Khawaja writing: 'What a week! It had it all AU.'
Many saw the funny side of the picture, with AFL great Daniel Gorringe commenting: 'The golf pic is very good.'
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins even replied to the post, adding an emoji of a golfer.
Khawaja came in at No 4 during the first innings, but would score only two runs before being dismissed by Brydon Carse. Steve Smith then chose to send Travis Head in to bat alongside Jake Weatherald in the second innings in place of Khawaja. The South Australian produced the second-fastest century scored by an Australian in the Ashes, helping his side chase down a target of 205 runs to win, with Khawaja subsequently not being required to bat.
In the wake of Khawaja's golf saga, Cricket Australia chief executive officer Todd Greenberg explained that the governing body had no issue with the Queenslander playing golf the day before the Perth Test.
The executive explained that several other players had played prior to the Test, including Mitchell Starc, who took seven wickets during England's first innings. Ben Stokes' side have also copped flak for being pictured out playing golf before the Test.
The Queensland batsman, who amassed two runs during the Test, captioned the Instagram post: 'What a week! It had it all AU'
Many saw the funny side to the Instagram post, including his captain Pat Cummins, who published a golfer emoji
'It's held him in good stead over the last couple of years,' Greenberg told SEN.
'It's not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf one day prior. A lot of people talk about cricket being played between the ears, and so getting some time away from being in your hotel or training, I think is really important.
'I noticed Mitch Starc played golf with him, so it certainly didn't impact his performance. Did that correlate to any of the issues?
'I personally don't think so. I think Usman's a very seasoned campaigner. He knows his body well, and he knows how to get himself prepared for cricket, and he's done it over a long period of time. So I think that's drawing a long bow.'
Khawaja's fitness is still up in the air, 10 days out from the second Test in Brisbane, with Australia coach Andrew McDonald admitting that the jury is still out on whether Khawaja is a cert to play.
'I'm not sure where he's [Khawaja] at, medically,' McDonald said.
'There was discussions around further investigation to whether it was more serious than what we first anticipated. We get to camp in six days time [in Brisbane] so it's a long way out, a lot of information to gather between now and then. Hopefully he's fit and available for selection.'
'That back spasm took its toll in the first innings and got worse into day two, which is something that's pretty common,' McDonald said.
Travis Head (pictured) would step up in Australia's second innings in place of Khawaja and guide the Aussies to victory
'It's difficult once your back starts going into spasm to get it under control. Unfortunate for him, but it opened up the opportunity for Heady to go up there and do what he did, which was amazing.'
It appears Australia may have also found their answer to their opening batsman conundrum, with Head delivering alongside Jake Weatherald in place of Khawaja.
Meanwhile, Matt Renshaw has stuck his name in the selection hat, after he struck a century against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield last week.
Gerard Whateley believes Australia are currently blessed with a raft of high-quality batters who could step in to replace Khawaja.
He adds that Khawaja deserves a send-off at his home gound at The Gabba, but not as a player.
'Australia now has rich choices,' he said to SEN Mornings.
'(Matt) Renshaw has just made his third century of the Shield season, Head has done that (on Day 2), and he looked like the perfect running mate for Jake Weatherald.
'With respect to Usman Khawaja, that answered itself – for what he wasn't able to do with the bat, and he missed those two catches really tellingly at first slip, because his back was buggered.
Gerard Whateley believes that Khawaja (pictured) deserves a send-off at The Gabba next week but added that his time playing in the Test side may be over
Khawaja has averaged 35.61 runs across eight Tests in 2025, amassing 463 runs in 14 innings
'There's no judgment in any of that, but I am amazed by some of the commentary that says, 'we will give him a farewell Test match'. Put him in the back of a ute, drive him around a full Gabba, and salute him!
'Magnificent career, particularly the Renaissance period, but don't play him! That's a crazy idea! I just think these questions absolutely answered themselves.
'I'd be really disappointed if Head doesn't open for the remainder of the series, but if they take that strategic choice, they should put Renshaw in, because he has now banged the door down with three Shield centuries and one against the pink ball at the Gabba.
'Truthfully, I just think that has answered itself, and if you ignore the answer, that will be a head scratcher.'
Whateley added: 'I think we salute Khawaja, who was the right man for the right time,' Whateley continued.
'He guided Australia through a rickety period at the top of the order. He had good success; we're in Bob Simpson territory with him. It would be a miracle if Khawaja had played a significant role with the bat, and now there are better alternatives.
'With the greatest of respects, we salute him and his service was so needed, but his period of service is at an end.'
