Khawaja Slams Perth Pitch: 'Substandard' Despite ICC Rating

Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has voiced strong criticism of the Perth pitch used in the recent Test match, labeling it "substandard" and a "piece of s***". His remarks came despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) rating the playing surface as "very good". Khawaja highlighted concerns over the excessive number of wickets falling and the unpredictable bounce experienced during play.

Khawaja, who batted at number four and scored only two runs, found his position in the team for the next Test under threat. This is compounded by Travis Head's successful century scored as an opener in the second innings at Perth Stadium. Khawaja expressed frustration with the surface, noting that players were frequently hit and that predicting the bounce was nearly impossible.

He recalled similar situations from the previous year, emphasizing that while pitches often improve on days two and three, they can deteriorate by day four. This unpredictability makes batting conditions challenging, particularly when the bounce is inconsistent. Khawaja has been named in an unchanged squad for the upcoming Brisbane Test.