Pat Cummins' heartfelt request to retiring Usman Khawaja ahead of farewell Test in Sydney

Ahead of the final match of the Ashes 2025–26 series, Australian captain Pat Cummins has a special request from veteran opener Usman Khawaja. With Khawaja officially announcing that the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Test will be his last in international cricket, Cummins publicly congratulated his longtime teammate on an illustrious career while urging him to "bow out in style" with one final century on his home turf.

Pat Cummins’ heartfelt request to Usman Khawaja before emotional farewell

The farewell carries significant sentimental weight, as Khawaja’s journey comes full circle at the same venue where it began. The 39-year-old made his Test debut at the SCG in 2011, also against England during an Ashes series. Now, fifteen years later, he returns to the iconic ground to bring a decorated career to a close in front of a home crowd.

“Congratulations on an incredible career, mate. One more home century to go,” Cummins wrote on his Instagram story.

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Usman Khawaja's stellar track record at SCG

Usman Khawaja’s history at the SCG is nothing short of legendary, making it the perfect stage for his final appearance. Across nine matches at the venue, he has amassed 875 runs at a staggering average of 87.5, including four centuries. The SCG famously served as the site of his career resurrection during the 2021–22 Ashes, where he marked his return to the Test side after a two-year absence by scoring emphatic twin centuries.

That comeback sparked a golden era for the opener, most notably during the 2023 Ashes in England, where he finished as the leading run-scorer with 496 runs. However, the last two years have proven more challenging; since 2024, his average has dipped to 31.18. Physical setbacks have also hampered his final season, as severe back spasms in Perth forced him to miss the Brisbane Test, only returning to the side for the third match when Steve Smith was sidelined.

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Khawaja’s overall international footprint remains immense, with 8,001 runs across all formats and 18 centuries to his name. While he is primarily celebrated for his Test grit, his white-ball impact was equally significant, highlighted by his dominant performance during the 2019 ODI series win in India, where he averaged 76.60. By retiring at the SCG, Khawaja brings his journey full circle at the very ground where he made his debut. He joins an elite fraternity of Australian greats who have chosen the historic Sydney venue to say their final goodbyes, ending an illustrious career on his own terms in front of a home crowd.