Join the Miguel Delaney team: Inside Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter to get exclusive access and unparalleled insight. Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter Football newsletterAustralia captain Pat Cummins has provided an update on Usman Khawaja after the veteran’s back spasms prompted a hasty reshuffle to their top order against England.Khawaja was forced off the field with three overs of England’s innings left to get treatment and was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne in the batting order, who was originally pencilled in at number three.Cummins, who was forced to sit out the first Test with a back injury of his own, is hopeful this won’t act another headache for the Aussie camp, who are also without Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott due to hamstring strains.”Uzzie had some back spasms in the field, so he came off and was getting a bit of treatment, some heat in it, stretching on and off,” Cummins told ABC.Usman Khawaja did not open the batting for Australia in Perth (Getty Images)”He got on the wrong side of the timings – a few quick ones at the end meant that he couldn’t bat, he missed it by a few minutes.”I haven’t seen him since I batted. He’s obviously moved well after batting. Back spasms can be annoying, but they are manageable.”Get some antiinflams and hope he’s okay.”Cummins said the left-hander had been fully fit for the first test, but Khawaja left the field several time in the opening three hours. Khawaja could not open for Australia and instead entered fourth. He survived for just six balls before he was caught by Jamie Smith on a Brydon Casse delivery.
2025-11-21 15:47:50
Pat Cummins gives injury update on Usman Khawaja after missing start o
