The Ashes 2025-26 started on fiery note in Perth, with Australian pacer Mitchell Starc blowing away England with career-best figures of 7/58. Fellow pacer and debutant Brendan Doggett chipped in with two wickets, to help the hosts bowl them out for 172 in just 32.5 overs.
For England, Harry Brook top-scored with 52, while Ollie Pope scored 46.
However, when the Aussies came out to bat in their first innings, fans were surprised to see debutant Jake Weatherald walking out with Marnus Labuschagne, instead of his regular partner Usman Khawaja.
According to reports, the southpaw was off the field for an extended period of time while the Aussies were bowling. News18 quoted Cricket Australia as saying that he had taken “toilet breaks and stretching”. And with England folding up quickly, Khawaja will have to wait before he comes out to bat, as per the rules.
According to ICC's Test Match Playing Conditions – Clause 24 (Fielder's Absence; Substitutes) – a player has to serve a ‘penalty time’ if he has been absent from the field of play for more than eight minutes.
The player will have to wait to bat for a duration equal to the time they were off. However, if the team loses five wickets before that time is served, the player can come out to bat immediately.
