Why is Marnus Labuschagne opening for Australia in Ashes opener vs England instead of Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne opened with debutant Jake Weatherald after Usman Khawaja was barred from batting early because he had spent too long off the field.
When Weatherald fell lbw to Jofra Archer’s second ball, Khawaja still wasn’t eligible to enter, prompting stand-in captain Steve Smith to take the No. 3 spot.
The reason for Khawaja’s extended absence remains unclear, though the Australian camp maintains he is not injured.
Weatherald joined Nathan McSweeney in making a duck on Test debut. He had also fallen for nought in Perth in 2024 against India. This match now carries a small piece of history: it is the first Ashes Test in which both Australia and England lost their first wicket with no run on the board in the opening innings.
Published on Nov 21, 2025
