Khawaja cops feather touch punishment for ‘piece of s–t’ pitch sledge

Injured opener Usman Khawaja has received no more than a slap on the wrist from Cricket Australia after the struggling veteran described the Optus Stadium wicket as a “piece of shit” at a function.

Speaking at a function for his own charity foundation at the Queensland Cricketers Club last Friday, he ripped into the wicket after England were bowled out on day one for 172 and the Aussies struggled to 9-123 by stumps.

It was expected that he would at least cop a fine for his rant but Cricket Australia, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report, has let him off without any sanction.

He was spoken to by a senior team official but will face no further action.

“Nineteen wickets on the first day, about 20 people got hit. That’s a great wicket, that seems real fair?” the soon-to-be 39-year-old said at a fundraising luncheon for the Usman Khawaja Foundation.

“The same thing happened last year, that day one wicket. The ball just does not react.

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“Day one wicket is a piece of shit, I’m happy to say that. They do get better day two, day three, but day four they start to crack up again.

“We know day two and day three is usually the best time to bat, that’s why whenever we play at Perth and we win the toss we bat first hoping that we can bat again maybe end of day two into day three.

“”You can’t really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest. Sideways is little bit easier. But up and down, your hands can’t catch up.”

Even though the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium lasted just two days, the pitch was given a top rating by the ICC despite the shortened match.

Usman Khawaja. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)

Australia wrapped up an eight-wicket win before stumps on day two in Perth after 32 wickets fell in just 847 balls, with England’s two innings lasting a combined 67.3 overs.

Khawaja has been ruled out of Thursday’s second Test in Brisbane due to the back injury which meant he couldn’t open in the first innings in Perth when he was out for just two after batting at No.4.

Travis Head is set to open again with Khawaja out and Josh Inglis looks to have won the race to fill the middle-order vacancy ahead of allrounder Beau Webster.

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