The Ashes 2025-26: Stuart Broad stunned by England’s tactics as Aaron Finch backs Usman Khawaja amid scrutiny
Former Test opener Aaron Finch has defended Usman Khawaja’s Ashes preparation but conceded time is running out for the Australian opener.
Having come into the series with questionable form, Khawaja spent long spells of the first Test off the field suffering from back spasms, which threw Australia’s top order into chaos in the first innings as he was unable to open.
He then came under the microscope after it was revealed he spent the lead-up to the first Test playing three days of golf, having also skipped the final Sheffield Shield hit-out before the series.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Finch’s defence of Khawaja’s place in the Test team comes as legendary English quick Stuart Broad was still reeling from England’s second-innings collapse.
WATCH THE VIRAL STUART BROAD VIDEO BELOW
He has unwittingly found himself at the centre of drama with a video of him closing his eyes and folding his arms in disbelief, pictured below, in the Channel Seven commentary box went viral.
Broad, who had said before the first Test England might have chosen to bowl first and this was Australia’s worst team to play an Ashes series at home since England last won here in 2010-11, said he was still perplexed at how England had no answers for Travis Head’s blistering innings.
“For Ben Stokes — who is one of the most tactical minds I’ve ever played alongside — to not have an answer to Australia’s game plan shows just how spectacular that performance was from Head,” Broad told The Nightly.
Khawaja’s spot is now in serious jeopardy, with the 38-year-old, soon to be 39, struggling to hold his position at the top of the order.
“The question you need to know the answer to is what was Usman’s ideal preparation for the past four years he’s played cricket since he returned to the side,” Finch told The Nightly.
“If each and every time he’s playing golf a couple of days before the game and that falls into his preparation along with the tactical and mental side of it.
“If that’s part of his preparation then this is just a case of unfortunate coincidence, but it’s obviously not ideal, particularly when you’re coming towards the end of your career.”
It comes as Australian coach Andrew McDonald failed to guarantee Khawaja’s place in the side even if he recovers, as expected, for the second Test.
“There were discussions around further investigation to determine whether it was more serious than what we first anticipated,” he said on Monday.
“We get to camp in six days time (in Brisbane), so it’s a long way out, a lot of information to gather between now and then.”
However, Finch said he would not be surprised if Australia kept the faith in Khawaja. pictured below, for the second Test at the Gabba on December 4 despite his failure to contribute in Perth.
“It’s still a long break to the second Test, which gives him a long time to recover and for selectors to mull over the decision, and whichever way you go you can’t argue with it,” he said.
“Generally with older players, they get those one or two extra matches because they have credits in the bank, and I agree with that because around the side it breeds confidence in the decisions being made.”
Broad has had to relive his viral moment calling the match alongside Matthew Hayden when England’s middle order collapsed.
The visitors lost 3-0 as Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Joe Root all went in quick succession just as England had seemingly got on top of Australia’s bowlers.
The wicket of the world’s best batter, Root, hurt Broad the most and Hayden let him know all about it as it unfolded live on TV.
“When Root chopped on, every England supporter felt that same punch to the gut at the exact same time, so that reaction you saw was genuine,” Broad said.
“I think that moment was the biggest turning point in the match.
“We’d just started to feel a tiny bit settled, thinking we were still properly in the contest, and then Australia did what they did.
“That’s the magic of the Ashes. The emotion is real on both sides, and it drags you in whether you want it to or not. Every hour felt like a completely different match.
“I’ve seen it so often in Australia. It’s not only the team that grabs the momentum, the whole stadium leans in. The air shifts, the crowd surges, and suddenly everything feels different, and that was certainly the feeling on Saturday afternoon.
“Travis Head’s innings was outrageous. One of the finest I’ve ever witnessed in an Ashes. Credit to Australia for flipping their strategy on its head.”
If selectors back Head to repeat his Perth heroics, Finch believes reserve keeper Josh Inglis is the obvious choice to replace him in the middle order.
“Middle-order options seem easier to fill at the moment than the top of the order, and I’d be confident Inglis could come in and fill that role,” he said.
Finch also believes England will not tweak their bowling attack despite being powerless to stop Head racing towards his epic century and rescuing the match from the jaws of defeat for Australia.
Stokes went for 17 in one over as Head toyed with the Poms, while England’s supposedly fearsome opening duo of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer going wicketless and getting smashed all over the ground.
“I think with such a long break and both teams barely bowling, England will certainly double down with their approach with the attack that they picked,” the five-match Test player said.
“If you’re listening to the narrative even at lunchtime on day two, England had done everything right and Australia were on the back foot, and no one could see a way back into the game.
“They just had a really poor half an hour with the bat after lunch. Scott Boland got his length right, and they weren’t prepared to play an attritional game.”
