Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has gone into bat for Usman Khawaja after it was revealed he played golf on the day before the first Test which may have contributed to his back problem.
Greenberg did not see a problem with the 38-year-old skipping an optional training session to have a swing with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland at
“It’s held him in good stead over the last couple of years,” Greenberg said on SEN radio on Saturday.
“It’s not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf the day prior. A lot of them will talk about cricket being played between the ears, and so getting some time away from your hotel or training is really important.
“I noticed Mitchell Starc played golf with him, so it certainly didn’t affect his performance.
“Did that correlate to any of the issues, I personally don’t think so. I know 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 unhappy first Test continued on day two when he dropped a sitter at first slip.
With England keeper Jamie Smith new to the wicket and yet to get off the mark, he edged Mitchell Starc low to Khawaja’s right.
But the veteran opener, who controversially had to bat at four in the Australian innings after spending too long in the dressing room with back stiffness, grassed the straightforward chance.
Almost another wicket, Khawaja can't take the chance.
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“His hands ended up too low. His hands get under the ball and it hits him in the wrist and the chance is gone,” said Greg Blewett on Seven commentary.
Khawaja left the field again soon after – “He looks really sore,” said Mike Hussey on Fox Cricket.
JL rips into reckless England batters
Justin Langer was far from impressed with England’s reckless middle order for handing momentum back to Australia.
The tourists were cruising at 1-65 but lost 5-23 with Scott Boland bouncing back from a wicketless first innings.
The former Australia opener and coach questioned their tactics of targeting Boland, which backfired when the Victorian seamer tore through their line-up.
“Very very poor batting by England,” he said on Seven commentary.
“We’re going to attack Boland … Boland’s going to be easy pickings but he’s shown why he’s been such an outstanding bowler for Australia.”
England fuming over Smith’s ghost snick
The Barmy Army were up in arms after Jamie Smith was given out after what Mark Waugh called the longest review in cricket history.
Smith was given not out after sparring at a short ball down the leg side from Brendan Doggett on 15.
When a small spike appeared on Snicko in the initial replay he started making his way off but hung around to wait for the final decision which took several minutes from third umpire Sharfuddoula.
“I don’t see any deflection,” Sharfuddoula said as he watched replay after replay.
“I see a spike as the ball goes past the bat. I’m satisfied the ball has made contact with the bat.”
Waugh thought Smith was too honest for his own good.
“I think Smith gave it away. I don’t think the third umpire would have been convinced if he’d stay there.”
Mike Hussey said he was confused with the decision.
“The spike looked like it came after the ball passed the bat,” he said.
“But Smith walking off before the decision was made was perhaps a giveaway. It’s going to cause some controversy.
“There’s got to be enough doubt there.”
England fans were up out of their seats, yelling and screaming after the decision was handed down, leaving the Poms 7-104, a lead of 144 midway through day two.
Former ICC umpire Simon Taufel backed the decision.
“The conclusive evidence protocols with RTS – if you get a spike up to one frame past the bat, that is conclusive. And in this particular case, that is exactly what was there,” he told Seven.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t want to pull the trigger quite as quickly as perhaps he could have or should have. And the guys in the truck were doing their utmost to show him and to slow it down and to try rocking and rolling that frame.
“For me, the correct decision was made. A spike RTS after one frame past the bat, the batter has got to go.”
The Roarhttps://https://ift.tt/CzVsjOS Points: Greenberg defends Uzzy’s golfing escapade, Langer lashes brainless Bazball batting, uproar over Smith snick
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