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'Foolish madness': Cricket legends question Ashes preparations
SEN • November 11th, 2025 10:22 am
Ten days out from the opening Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series against England and one of Australia’s opening batsman is being rested.
Usman Khawaja has sat out the Bulls' fourth round Sheffield Shield clash against West Australia, and as such will go into the Perth Test having not played for three weeks.
As far as preparations go it’s not ideal, according to Ian Healy, who has voiced his concerns that the Aussies appear to already be managing their opener.
Khawaja, who will turn 39 during the series, is the only member of the 15-man Australia squad named last week, not in action in this round of the Shield.
What kind of message does this send?
“It’s very new,” Healy said of the strategy on SENQ Breakfast. “They are managing an opening batsman for some reason. They finished against NSW a week ago. He was always going to not play one of the four.
“Last year QLD were happy to be told which one, this year they chose the fourth one.
“I probably would have gone for another one, but he must be ok with only practice.
“They’re the experts and they’re the high performance dept. Usman himself is the type to just pick up a bat and go. I couldn’t do it; I would have to overtrain. Let’s see how we go.”
Khawaja is not the only one lightening the pre-Ashes load, with England poised to play just one warm-up match before the action gets underway at Optus Stadium next week.
It’s led England cricket legend Geoffrey Boycott to describe the team’s Ashes preparations as total “madness” and that if they lose the series, they will only have themselves to blame.
“England’s preparation has been madness,” Boycott wrote in a column for the UK Telegraph. “If they win in Australia it will be in spite of their lack of match practice, not because of it. Match practice would give them a better chance.
“I played in two Ashes-winning teams in Australia and I believe you need to be put under pressure so you can fine-tune your skills.
“Fierce, competitive matches are the best preparation for the tough Test cricket to come. This modern-day preparation borders on foolish to players of my generation."
Besides their preparations, Boycott is confident England are primed for success in Australia - mainly because he doesn't rate many of the host side.
"This is England’s best chance of winning in Australia for years," he continued. "Marnus Labuschagne is back, but has had an awful year in Test cricket. Opener Usman Khawaja is 38 and they are unsure about his opening partner.
"Cummins will be missed as a bowler and a leader.
"In the batting, Australia depend a great deal on Steve Smith and Travis Head. The rest are not special."
The first Test between Australia and England begins on November 21 at Optus Stadium. Catch every ball of the Ashes on the Sport Nation app via SEN.
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