Australia's veteran batter Usman Khawaja has addressed his Test retirement talks right ahead of the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka. He expressed a strong desire to continue playing as long as he can contribute effectively to the team's success. However, Khawaja later said that he avoids making long-term plans and prefers to focus on the present. Khawaja's form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India wasn't up to the mark as he could only score 184 runs at an average of 20.44, with only one half-century across ten innings. Jasprit Bumrah proved to be a particularly challenging opponent, dismissing Khawaja six times in nine innings.
Usman Khawaja on his retirement plan
Despite these recent batting struggles, Khawaja acknowledged the inevitable transition phase that Test cricket will undergo in the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to playing for as long as he feels he can contribute meaningfully. However, he also expressed respect for the selectors' decisions and hinted that he would gracefully accept their judgment if they believe it's time for him to step aside.
"Over the next three to four years, there's going to be a lot of transition going on. I'm quite attuned to that and I still want to play and I want to keep playing for as long as I can. But I also know there might be a right time to slip out. If I'm still playing and the selectors are like, 'We feel like the time's come', it's, 'You let me know and I can slide out'," Khawaja was quoted as saying by the roar.com.
Australia have revealed their squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Notably, among the eleven players who contributed to the victory over India in Sydney, only Sam Konstas is under 30 years old. This highlights the team's proactive steps towards integrating younger talent. To further this objective, Cooper Connolly and Nathan McSweeney have been included in the squad for the Sri Lankan tour.Usman Khawaja has acknowledged the evolving nature of the Test squad. While he remains eager to continue contributing to the team's success, he has refrained from setting a specific retirement timeline. However, he expressed his ambition to be a part of the Australian squad for the 2025/26 Ashes series against England.
"There's definitely those thoughts (bowing out in Sydney) in my head, I'm not afraid to talk about that. I'm human. I'd still like to play the Ashes at a bare minimum. I try not to think too far ahead, that's as far ahead as I'll think. As long as we're winning, I'm still contributing, my body's still feeling good, I'll play. For me it always feels more like one summer at a time (rather than retiring after the Ashes)," Khawaja added.
Khawaja is slated to open the batting for Australia in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. This decision is underpinned by his impressive performance during the 2023 tour of India, where he emerged as the team's leading run-scorer. Previously, Khawaja had faced criticism for his inconsistent performances in Asian conditions. However, he now approaches the game with a more relaxed mindset, acknowledging the inherent ups and downs that are an integral part of cricket. This newfound perspective allows him to focus on his strengths and adapt to the challenges presented by different conditions.
"(Playing on the subcontinent) has been a love-hate relationship. (But) there's going to be times when you score runs, times you don't score runs. You respect that the older you get. Cricket always ebbs and flows. I'm very attuned to that now," Khawaja concluded.