Veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja has confirmed he will retire from all international cricket following the conclusion of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The 39-year-old made the emotional announcement at a press conference on Friday, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning 87 Test matches.
A Fitting Farewell at the SCG
Khawaja revealed that the Sydney Test, with Australia already holding an unassailable 3-1 series lead over England, would be his final appearance in the Baggy Green. This location holds profound personal and professional significance for the batsman. It was at the SCG that he made his Test debut during the 2010-11 Ashes series, and it is also close to his home.
"I live just up the road from the SCG, on Cook Road, to be exact," Khawaja shared. He recounted a childhood memory of seeing former Test cricketer Michael Slater drive a red Ferrari, which inspired his own dreams. "As a boy, whose parents were barely scraping through... I thought, 'One day, I'm going to be a Test cricketer.'"
A Career of Resilience and Inspiration
Khawaja's journey is one of remarkable perseverance. Moving to Sydney from Pakistan as a child, he faced doubts about his place in Australian cricket. He scored 6,206 Test runs at an average of 43.39, including 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries. His career experienced a stunning late revival at the age of 35, when he scored twin centuries at the SCG against England in 2022 after a recall to the side, leading to seven more hundreds in the following two years.
In his retirement speech, Khawaja delivered a powerful message of inclusion. "I'm a proud Muslim, coloured boy from Pakistan who was told that he would never play for the Australian cricket team. Look at me now," he stated. "I hope I've inspired many children along the way, particularly those who feel that they are different or that they don't belong."
Navigating a Final Summer
The batsman's future had been a topic of intense speculation throughout the Ashes series, especially after he turned 39 in December. His position came under extra scrutiny this summer after missing the first Test in Perth due to back spasms and subsequently sitting out the Brisbane match. He was initially omitted for Adelaide before being recalled due to Steve Smith's vertigo, and he cemented his place with a score of 82 in the first innings of the fourth Test in Melbourne.
Khawaja becomes only the second Australian Test player in the last decade to retire while still a member of the team, following David Warner's departure two summers ago. He concluded his announcement with a message of gratitude: "As I walk off for the last time, I do so with gratitude and peace. Or as we say, 'salam'. Thank you for letting me live my dream."
