‘Really poor’: Usman Khawaja under fire over ‘pathetic’ act towards Aussie teammate

Questions are being asked about some of the extraordinary decisions the Australians made during a humiliating collapse of 3-12 on day three of the first cricket Test against India. On one of the darkest days for Australian cricket in recent memory, India amassed 6-487 as Yashasvi Jaiswal plundered 161 and Virat Kohl registered an unbeaten 100.

But things went from bad to embarrassing in the final half hour of play as the Aussies lost Nathan McSweeney (0), Pat Cummins (2) and Marnus Labuschagne (3) to slump to 3-12 in their chase of a record total of 534. McSweeney only lasted four balls after being trapped lbw by Jasprit Bumrah for the second innings in a row, completing a nightmare Test debut for the 25-year-old.

But many were left questioning why veteran teammate Usman Khawaja didn’t show more leadership by facing the first ball of the innings. Khawaja faced the first ball in the first innings, but in the second dig the Aussie openers switched it around (which is customary for openers).

But given McSweeney was on debut and the incredible Bumrah was bowling in fading light, many felt Khawaja should have shown some leadership and fronted up himself. The 37-year-old Khawaja has played 73 Tests, and many fans and commentators felt it was ‘poor’ for him to allow McSweeney to expose himself to Bumrah straight away.

Others countered by saying McSweeney would have had to face Bumrah at some stage anyway, and openers shouldn’t need protecting. But the sight of Khawaja standing at the non-striker’s end while Bumrah cannoned a ball into McSweeney’s front pad left a sour taste in many people’s mouths.

Marnus Labuschagne torched over ‘selfish’ act

Cummins then showed some brilliant leadership by coming out to bat at No.3, protecting Labuschagne and Steve Smith from having to bat in the tricky conditions. But once he departed, Labuschagne decided to come out at No.4 anyway.

And it immediately backfired as the struggling batter lasted just five balls. Many were left wondering why the Aussies would send Labuschagne out at No.4 if they didn’t send him out at 3, with some suggesting a second nightwatchman in Nathan Lyon should have batted instead. If the Aussies were going to be three down at stumps, surely you’d rather they be Cummins and Lyon in the shed rather than McSweeney and Labuschagne.

And to make matters worse for Labuschagne, he burned a review on his way back to the pavilion. The Aussie batter got it horribly wrong when he shouldered arms and watched the ball from Bumrah thud into his pads.

After a discussion with Khawaja he opted to use DRS, and replays showed the ball was thundering into his off stump. Labuschagne’s decision to use a review when he didn’t even play a shot was labelled ‘selfish’ by many cricket pundits on social media.

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How much longer can the Aussies carry Marnus Labuschagne?

The Aussies are no chance of chasing 534, but you’d like to have all your reviews in hand in case the umpire makes a howler. Labuschagne’s dismissal continued his horror run of form, in which he hasn’t made a Test century in the last 18 months.

There’s renewed questions about how much longer the Aussies can afford to keep Labuschagne in the team, although there doesn’t appear to be many options to replace him. With scores of 2 and 3 in Perth, he hasn’t reach double figures in his last 10 innings. And selectors might have to bite the bullet and make a call before it’s too late.