Cricket Australia to Seek Explanation from Khawaja Over “Piece of S*” Pitch Remark**

Cricket Australia (CA) will meet with senior batter Usman Khawaja this week after he publicly described the Perth Test pitch as a “piece of s***”, a comment that has left officials disappointed and could lead to disciplinary action.

Khawaja made the remark during a fundraising lunch for the Usman Khawaja Foundation on Friday, just a day after the ICC rated the Perth surface as “very good”—the highest possible grade. His comments targeted the pitch’s variable bounce during Australia’s eight-wicket win over England in the first Ashes Test.

The opener highlighted the unusually high wicket tally on opening day this year—19 fell against England—and the 17 that fell on day one of last year’s Australia–India series opener at the same venue.

The Perth Test was the shortest played in Australia in 93 years, lasting just 847 deliveries.

“Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit. That’s a great wicket, that seems real fair,” Khawaja said sarcastically.
“Steve Smith’s by far the best cricketer I’ve ever played with… yet he’s getting hit in the elbow.
“So day-one wicket at Perth is a piece of s***, I’m happy to say that.”

CA officials, who have publicly supported the pitch, will speak with Khawaja in Brisbane ahead of the second Test. Earlier this week, head of cricket James Allsopp said the ICC rating validated CA’s view that the wicket offered “a fair balance between bat and ball”.

England’s batting came under heavy fire following their 68.3-over match aggregate, with former opener Geoffrey Boycott calling their approach “brainless”. But Khawaja insisted the real issue was the unpredictable bounce.

“Up and down is the hardest,” he said. “Your hands can’t catch up… They do get better on days two and three, then crack up again on day four.”

The controversy also comes as scrutiny grows over Khawaja’s place in the XI. Back spasms prevented him from opening in either innings in Perth, and Travis Head’s century in the fourth-innings chase has fuelled calls for a top-order reshuffle. Khawaja, however, says he will be fit for the Gabba Test and has paid little attention to external pressure.

“I’ll be right,” he said. “I haven’t listened to any of the noise.”

CA’s meeting with Khawaja is expected in the coming days as the team prepares for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.