Cricket
Usman Khawaja was not allowed to open Australia’s innings in the Ashes Test due to an ICC playing condition.
Khawaja spent time off the field earlier in the day and wasn’t on the ground when England’s final wicket fell.
If a fielder is off the field near the fall of a wicket, he must wait 10 minutes before he is eligible to bat.
Because of this rule, Khawaja couldn’t open and wasn’t allowed to bat at No. 3 either, even when Jake Weatherald got out for a duck.
The rule forced Australia to adjust their batting order, putting extra pressure on their top order early in the innings.
It’s unusual for a regular opener to miss his spot due to time-off rules, but the ICC regulation made Khawaja wait before batting.
Cricket