The Ashes 2025-26: "He hasn't had it before.."- Australia coach Andrew McDonald drops huge update on Usman Khawaja's back injury

Usman Khawaja sustained a back spasm during the Perth test of The Ashes 2025-26.

Australian Cricket Team head coach Andrew McDonald has provided a big update on Usman Khawaja’s back inury. He said that further investigations will be conducted to analyse Khawaja’s condition. The left-handed batsman suffered a back spasm in the recently concluded first test of The Ashes 2025-26 against England Cricket Team at Optus Stadium in Perth.

In the first innings of England’s batting, Khawaja felt some discomfort in his back anf left the field for treatment. As England’s batting collapsed quickly, he could not field long enough and wasn’t eligible to open as per the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rules. He later batted at number four but was dismissed for two runs.

In England’s second innings as well, his back troubled him once again and he left the field. As a result, he was unable to open once again, with Travis Head replacing him as the opener in the second innings.

Coach Andrew McDonald provides an update on Usman Khawaja’s back issues

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Australia coach Andrew McDonald said the management will undertake further investigation to know the extent of Khawaja’s back issues. He also noted that the opening batter has never faced such a spasm in the past.

“There was discussions around further investigation to whether it was more serious than what we sort of first anticipated. So we’ll work through that. We’ll get a squad together. We’ll step through everything that we normally step through. We get to camp in six days’ time. It’s a long way out, a lot of information to gather between now and then, and hopefully Usman is fit and available for selection,” he said.

“I think anytime you spasm, it’s a result of something going on in your back. So I think that further investigation is just due diligence around that. You spasm for a reason. He hasn’t had it before, so that’s what will probably entail a bit more further investigation. My gut feel is that it should be okay, but as I said, we’ll wait for that information to present,” he added.

McDonald also dismissed the age factor as a reason for Khawaja’s injury.

“These things can happen. And I don’t think you can join the dots to something around his age. I think it’s just one of those things that’s happened,” he further said.

Meanwhile, chasing 205 for victory, Travis Head (123) hammered a wonderful century while Marnus Labuschagne (51*) hit an unbeaten fifty to bring Australia home in the Perth test by eight wickets. The low-scoring thriller ended within two days, with pacer Mitchell Starc getting the Player of the Match award for his 10-wicket haul.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.