Pat Cummins Comments on Khawaja’s Back Spasm During Ashes Opener

A concerning moment for Australia during the Ashes opener saw Usman Khawaja leave the field due to back spasms. The incident occurred as England’s first innings imploded, with Australia’s bowling attack taking quick wickets. Khawaja’s time off the field meant he was unavailable to open the innings and had to wait until the fourth position to bat. Following the day’s play, Pat Cummins, the Australian captain currently nursing a back injury himself, shared details about Khawaja’s issue. He described the spasms as requiring treatment and stretching, noting that Khawaja was just minutes away from missing his batting slot entirely. Cummins is hopeful that the condition is manageable and won’t significantly impact Khawaja’s participation. The opening day of the Ashes was also notable for an extraordinary number of wickets, with 19 falling – a tally not seen on day one of an Ashes Test in over a century. This dramatic collapse by England, from a strong position of 160/5 to being all out for 172, contributed to the record-breaking wicket count.