Golf becomes early flashpoint as The Ashes begins with fresh controversy

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The Ashes means as much to cricket supporters as the Ryder Cup does to golf fans.

Every two years, England and Australia face off in a five-Test series for one of the smallest trophies in sport. Despite its size, the Ashes is still one of the most coveted prizes in cricket.

This time around, Australia took an early lead, wrapping up a win inside two days in Perth. What started with plenty of promise for England quickly unravelled as they let a strong position slip away.

English supporters know this feeling all too well. The first Test loss is almost expected, especially when the series takes place Down Under.

Golf criticised after Khawaja’s back spasms and England’s heavy defeat

Golf has long been a favourite pastime for many international cricketers, from Shane Warne’s famous Augusta achievements to current players using the course as downtime on tour. But the conversation turned sharply when Usman Khawaja had to leave the field with back spasms during England’s first innings.

Because he spent extended time off the ground, Khawaja was required to bat lower in Australia’s reply, and he managed only two runs. Reports then emerged that the 38-year-old had played three rounds of golf in the days leading up to the Test — something former fast bowler Mitchell Johnson suggested would not have gone down well in the dressing room.

The episode ultimately didn’t affect the outcome, as Australia cruised to victory. But England soon found themselves in the spotlight for similar reasons.

England under fire for playing golf instead of preparing for pink-ball warm-up

Several England players visited a golf course following the defeat, a move that drew criticism once it became clear that no members of the squad would take part in the upcoming two-day pink-ball warm-up fixture.

The timing has raised eyebrows. The second Test in Brisbane will be a day-night match with a pink ball — a format in which Australia have consistently excelled. Given England’s collapse in Perth and Australia’s strong pink-ball record, the decision to skip valuable preparation has been widely questioned.

Players have previously stressed the importance of having freedom on tour, especially after the strict bubble conditions of the 2020–21 Ashes. Even so, the optics of choosing golf over match practice are difficult to ignore.

If England fail to improve when the series resumes in early December, their post-Perth downtime is likely to come under far heavier scrutiny — fair or not.