Perth, Australia : When Australia arrived in Perth for the opening match of the 2025–26 Ashes Series, one of their senior batters sprang a surprise — not with a century, but with a back spasm. Usman Khawaja, the 38-year-old left-handed opener renowned for his calm presence at the crease, found himself off the field with stiffness and spasms just as the match kicked off.
Cue the speculation: Was his pre-match round of golf the culprit? Reports suggested Khawaja had played golf before the Test, prompting questions about whether the leisurely swing had jangled his back. But Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg stepped in, firmly denying any link. “Did that correlate to any of the issues? I personally don’t think so,” Greenberg told SEN radio, defending Khawaja’s experience and body-awareness.
According to Greenberg, it’s actually “drawing a long bow” to connect the golf outing to the injury. He pointed out that other players — including pace ace Mitchell Starc, who also played golf that day — went on to perform strongly, suggesting preparation and rest were at play, not negligence.
Age & wear-and-tear: At 38, Khawaja is one of the elder statesmen of the Australian line-up. Back spasms aren’t unusual for a cricketer of his vintage, particularly one who has spent years crouching in the field and driving through fast bowlers.
Rules complication: The back issue had an immediate game-impact — Khawaja was apparently barred from opening the batting because he had spent an extended period off the field due to the stiffness, and did not meet minimum on-field time requirements.
Routine vs risk: The episode raises a broader question: how much off-field activity is “safe” in the lead-up to a Test? Golf may seem harmless, but at international level even a slight tweak can cause ripple effects — or invite scrutiny.
Media fascination: The fact that a relatively benign activity (golf) became a talking point says a lot about the modern athlete’s life — where every nuance is dissected and every routine is open to interpretation.
Key Quotes
> “It’s not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf a day prior… getting some time away from being in your hotel or training, I think is really important.” — Todd Greenberg, CEO, Cricket Australia.
“He had a back spasm. There’s not much you can do about that.” — Mitchell Starc, speaking about Khawaja’s condition.
In the world of Test cricket, preparation is everything and perception counts for a lot. For Usman Khawaja, the back spasm offers a reminder that even the slightest niggle can derail the opening order — and that off-field choices will always come under the microscope. In this case, the official verdict: the golf swing may have been leisurely, but it wasn’t to blame.
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