Former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian wants opener Usman Khawaja to retire with the conclusion of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. While Khawaja has expressed his desire to play the next Ashes, Julian criticised players like him trying to stretch their career a little longer.
“Opening the batting in this series has been extremely difficult and I think as you get older – he’s 37 … I know he’s come out in the press and said ‘I’d like to make it to the next Ashes series.' I just can’t see that personally,” Julian told FOX Sports News.
"I actually think he probably should finish up this series in Australia, go out on a high. I just don’t like it when players try and hang on that little bit longer and as you get older and when you’re batting, you’re opening the batting against quality bowling with new balls. That is very, very difficult and as you get older, you’re just not as sharp," he added.
So far, Khawaja has scored 327 runs in 2024 in Tests averaging just over 27. He has just one fifty and yet to score a century in 2024. In the first two Tests, he managed to score just 34 runs from four innings.
Young openers for Australia
The selectors have put their faith in Nathan McSweeney. He had a horrible start on debut but made up for it with a patient knock in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval. Also, New South Wales' teenager Sam Konstas has put his name forward with a quickfire century in the pink-ball warm-up game against India at Manuka Oval, Canberra.
Meanwhile, Khawaja has lauded his new opening partner McSweeney. He wishes to play another Test summer for Australia
“I’m just enjoying it. Look at this face. It’s still fresh. If everything is going well there is no reason why I would not want to play another summer in Australia. My body is good, my mind is good, and I am still hitting the ball well," Khawaja said before third Test in Brisbane (via Sydney Morning Herald).
