The Ashes: Australian stand-in skipper Steve Smith defends Usman Khawaja’s preparations after back spasms

Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith has defended Usman Khawaja’s preparation for the first Test as the veteran opener battles back spasms. Khawaja did not open the batting in either innings because he spent too much time off the ground during Australia’s two brief bowling innings. That paved the way for Travis Head to score a famous Ashes century and blast Australia to a 1-0 series lead. After he had battled with the injury on the opening day, Smith confirmed Khawaja had more issues with his back after leaping for a ball that flew above him in the slips on the second day. It emerged on Friday evening Khawaja had played 18 holes of golf on Friday at Perth’s Lake Karrinyup Country Club after also playing twice earlier in the week. He was the only Australian player to not feature in last week’s Sheffield Shield round. “How is he right now? Not well, he’s not moving particularly well in there right now the old fella,” Smith said of Khawaja. “But his preparation was the same I think for every Test match that he has played. There was nothing out of whack there by any stretch and unfortunately he just pulled up a bit lame early in the game and that happens. “I’ve been there myself when your back seizes up and it’s not a nice place to be. I can feel his pain right now.” Smith said Khawaja had joked it was “the best back spasm of his life” because it allowed Head to win Australia the game. But there was no joking when the hosts were left scrambling at the end of day one to find a replacement and settled on Marnus Labuschagne. “It was a little frustrating. It wasn’t ideal, it all happened pretty quickly,” Smith said. It leaves some doubt over Khawaja’s role in the second Test, which starts in Brisbane on December 4, however it is expected that if his issues are contained to back spasms, his recovery time could be short. There are also calls for the soon-to-be 39-year-old to be axed, with champion all-rounder Tom Moody among those urging selectors to make “hard calls at the top of the order”. Smith refused to weigh in on whether Head should retain the role at the top of the order. Australian captain Pat Cummins revealed he was “half a chance” of playing next month’s pink-ball Test, but an impressive training block while in Perth suggests he is a red-hot shot. Smith said spinner Nathan Lyon — who bowled just two overs for the match — would be fine after copping a ball to the hip from Mark Wood. “In terms of Gazza, he copped a couple on the gut, he is a little tender (he’s got) a few bruises he keeps showing off, but he’s tough though, he’ll be fine,” he said. There is a growing sense paceman Josh Hazlewood could miss the rest of the series with a hamstring concern. Cricket Australia says he would be reassessed ahead of the next Test.