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The West Australian: Australia’s stand-in skipper Steve Smith disagreed with Usman Khawaja’s blunt assessment of the Perth pitch for the first Ashes Test, after the opener labelled it a “piece of s**t”, saying those were “probably not the words he would have used.”

On the opening day of the blockbuster series, 19 batters came and went as both teams' fast bowling attacks targeted weaknesses in the opposition’s batting line-ups, leading to the match concluding late on day two.

Despite receiving the highest possible rating from the ICC, Khawaja, who was unable to take his usual opening position in both innings due to back spasms, described the pitch on the first day as a “piece of s...t”.