Usman Khawaja announces retirement from international Cricket, Sydney Ashes Test to be his final act

Australia's long-time Test opener Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket. The southpaw confirmed that the upcoming fifth and final Ashes Test against England would be his final game in international cricket. Khawaja announced during a press conference with his family by his side. The southpaw informed his teammates of his decision on Friday morning.

Khawaja on retirement

The 39-year-old made his Test debut in 2011, and the Sydney Ashes Test would be his 88th outing in the longest format of the game for Australia. He was also a part of Australia's World Test Championship (WTC)-winning squad in 2023 as well.

"I've been thinking about it, not wholly, but for a while," Khawaja said, with his family watching in the SCG press room. "Moving into this series, I kind of had an inkling in my head that this would be the last series.

"I talked to Rachel [Khawaja's wife] about it a fair bit, and I knew this was a big chance. I didn't leave the door fully shut, because I knew there was a chance I could play on. I know [coach] Andrew McDonald even right til the very end, when I told him a few days ago, he was still thinking about how I could get to India [in 2027].

"I'm glad I get to leave on my own terms, with a little bit of dignity and go out at the SCG where I love. But I think the start of the series was a pretty tough time. Then going into Adelaide and not being picked initially for the game, that was probably a sign for me to day, all right, it's time to move on."

Khawaja has so far scored over 8000 international runs across formats, while featuring in 87 Tests, 40 ODIs, and nine T20Is. He was also named the Men's Test Cricketer of the Year for 2023.

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Khawaja on playing last Test in Sydney

Khawaja will finish his international career in the most fitting place, his hometown of Sydney, which is the same venue where it all began for him. It was at the SCG that he made his Test debut against England back in 2011. Years later, the same ground became the stage for one of the most important moments of his career, when he revived his Test journey at the age of 35 by scoring two centuries against England in early 2022, with Travis Head sidelined due to Covid. Khawaja shared how close the ground has always been to his heart, both literally and emotionally.

“I actually live just up the road from the SCG, on Cook Road,” he said. “As a kid, growing up in a small two-bedroom apartment with parents who were doing their best to make ends meet, I always dreamed that one day I’d become a Test cricketer.”

Australia takes 3-1 lead in Ashes

Coming back to Ashes, Australia are leading 3-1. Khawaja featured in the first Test but couldn’t bat in the second innings because of a back spasm. That opened the door for Travis Head to step in as an opener, and he went on to play a match-winning innings.

Khawaja then missed the second Test in Brisbane and was close to being left out for the third Test in Adelaide as well. However, a late injury to Steve Smith changed plans, and Khawaja was brought back into the side to bat in the middle order.