Why Usman Khawaja Couldn’t Open in Perth: The ICC Rule That Derailed Australia’s Plans Usman Khawaja has opened Australia’s batting for years, forming one of the most reliable partnerships in Test cricket. So when debutant Jake Weatherald walked out ahead of him on day one of the Perth Ashes Test, it raised eyebrows across the cricketing world. The answer lies in an obscure ICC regulation that caught Australia off guard—and handed England an unexpected advantage.

The Eight-Minute Rule That Changed Everything

ICC Playing Condition 24.2.3 is rarely invoked, but it’s clear: if a player leaves the field for more than eight minutes, they cannot bat or bowl until their team’s innings has progressed for an equal amount of time—unless five wickets have already fallen.​

Khawaja spent 17 minutes off the field during England’s first innings, leaving to receive treatment for back stiffness and spasms. According to former umpire Simon Taufel, the actual time was closer to 23 minutes. Either way, Khawaja was in penalty territory.​

The problem? England’s batting collapse was too quick. After Khawaja returned to the field, Mitchell Starc claimed the last two wickets in just five minutes, meaning the veteran opener still owed seven minutes of on-field time before he could bat.​

Initial Confusion: Toilet Break or Back Spasm?

Cricket Australia initially described Khawaja’s absence as “toilet breaks and stretching”. However, it soon emerged that the 38-year-old had been dealing with back stiffness throughout the day and experienced a spasm during his second exit from the field.​

Stand-in captain Steve Smith reportedly urged Khawaja to return quickly as England’s wickets tumbled, but by the time he made it back, the damage was done. Australia’s team management hadn’t fully anticipated the timing issue until England’s ninth wicket fell.​

“I wasn’t aware of it until the ninth wicket fell, and he still had about ten minutes to rejoin,” Mitchell Starc admitted. “We were somewhat caught off guard as the wickets tumbled rapidly towards the end. It’s unfortunate that it played out this way”.​

Weatherald’s Nightmare Debut

With Khawaja sidelined, the responsibility fell to 31-year-old Jake Weatherald, making his Test debut in the most high-pressure circumstances imaginable—opening in an Ashes Test on a lively Perth pitch.

Weatherald’s debut lasted exactly two balls. Jofra Archer, bowling at 140 kph, trapped him leg-before-wicket with a searing delivery that kept low. The dream debut turned into a nightmare in an instant.​

Marnus Labuschagne, who was supposed to bat at No. 3, was forced to open alongside Weatherald—a role he hadn’t prepared for. The reshuffled order disrupted Australia’s entire batting plan.

“I don’t think we completely understood that he wouldn’t be coming out to start the innings. It was probably more disruptive for the Australians,” England’s Brydon Carse remarked after the match.​

Khawaja’s Delayed Entry—and Quick Exit

By the time Khawaja’s penalty time expired, Australia were already in trouble. He eventually walked out at No. 4, but his six-ball stay ended when he nicked Brydon Carse to Jamie Smith behind the stumps.​

The back spasms that kept him off the field clearly affected his preparation and rhythm. Australia had hoped their most experienced opener would provide stability—instead, the ICC rule and his physical discomfort combined to leave them scrambling.

Golf Controversy Adds Fuel to the Fire

Reports emerged that Khawaja had played 18 holes of golf on Thursday, the day before the Test, having skipped Australia’s last optional training session. He had also played several rounds earlier in the week, along with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.​

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley was forced to address speculation that golf had contributed to Khawaja’s back issues, denying it was the cause. However, the timing raised questions about preparation and risk management ahead of such a crucial series.​

The Bigger Picture: Five-Wicket Escape Clause

Ironically, the ICC rule includes a provision that would have allowed Khawaja to bat immediately: once five wickets fall, a player serving penalty time can enter the game.​

Had Australia lost five quick wickets, Khawaja could have walked out regardless of the time served. But with Weatherald dismissed for a duck and Labuschagne surviving early, Australia never reached that threshold before Khawaja’s penalty expired naturally.

A Rare Rule, But Not Unprecedented

While the eight-minute rule is rarely enforced in such high-stakes situations, it’s designed to discourage teams from gaining unfair advantages by rotating fielders or allowing batters to rest excessively before their turn to bat.

The penalty can carry forward across innings and even accumulate up to a maximum of 120 minutes. In Khawaja’s case, the timing was simply unfortunate—a legitimate injury treated at the worst possible moment, compounded by England’s rapid collapse.​

Lessons for Future Matches

Australia will need to manage player absences more carefully moving forward. With fitness issues cropping up throughout the team—Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood already ruled out—any further time off the field could trigger similar complications.

For Khawaja, the challenge now is proving his back can hold up for the rest of the series. At 38, managing niggling injuries becomes increasingly difficult, and Australia cannot afford to lose their most experienced opener to injury or regulatory complications again.

The Perth episode serves as a reminder that cricket’s regulations, however obscure, can have match-defining consequences when circumstances align—or in this case, spectacularly misalign.