In a thrilling conclusion to the first Test of the Ashes 2023 series, Australia emerged victorious in the final moments against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Captain Pat Cummins played a pivotal role, leading his team from the front with an unbeaten knock of 44 runs during Australia’s chase of 281.
However, it was Usman Khawaja who stole the show with his exceptional batting performance in both innings. Khawaja’s contributions proved instrumental in Australia’s triumph, as he scored a magnificent 140 in the first innings and followed it up with a brilliant 65 in the second.
While the match showcased several memorable moments, it was a verbal altercation between English pacer Ollie Robinson and Khawaja that took center stage. The incident began when Robinson dismissed Khawaja in the first innings, celebrating with an aggressive send-off. The tension between the two players carried over into the second innings, where they were seen exchanging words.
Robinson’s conduct drew criticism from fans and cricket experts alike, as his aggressive actions were deemed unsportsmanlike. However, the English pacer has since revealed that he approached Khawaja after the incident to clarify that his actions were a result of the intensity of the moment and not personal animosity.
“I didn’t realise the Ussie [Usman Khawaja] send-off was such a big thing until I got off the pitch to find my phone blowing up with mates texting me and it all going off. I just got caught up in the moment. I was desperate for a wicket; I hadn’t bowled that well in the first innings, I’d had that slip in my second over and lost a bit of confidence. And then I was trying to feel my way back in a little bit, having not played much for a while. And obviously Ussie was the big wicket, he was playing beautifully. It was nothing against Ussie, it was just one of those things, I got caught up in the moment and let myself go,” wrote Robinson in him column for Wisden.
Robinson pointed out previous instances involving renowned players such as James Anderson and Brett Lee, highlighting the history of heated exchanges in the Ashes series. He also referred to Khawaja as a “nice guy,” indicating that there were no lingering hard feelings between them.
“We’ve all seen it with Jimmy [Anderson], Broady, [Glenn] McGrath, Brett Lee. All the bowlers do it when they’re fired up and trying to get a wicket for their team. I spoke to Ussie after as well and we were all good. He was just like, ‘Mate, just be careful what you say.’ It was nothing against him and we had a good chat. He’s a nice guy and I’ve always gotten on well with him, having played against him a few times,” added Robinson.
