Ashes 2025-26: Australia coach Andrew McDonald opens up on Usman Khawaja retirement talk ahead of Sydney Test

Veteran cricketers approaching the twilight of their careers often find themselves surrounded by speculation, and Australia’s ongoing Ashes campaign is no different. With the fifth and last Ashes 2025-26 With the Test set to take place at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, talk of farewells and future plans inevitably surfaced. Among the names at the center of these discussions is experienced fly-half Usman Khawaja. Now head coach of Australia Andrew McDonald stepped in to address the growing curiosity, offering clarity on Khawaja’s immediate future and the team’s broader selection thinking.

Andrew McDonald shares his views on Usman Khawaja retirement talk ahead of Sydney Test

McDonald firmly played down any immediate talk of Khawaja’s retirement after the fifth and final Ashes Test against England. Speaking to the media ahead of the Sydney clash, McDonald clarified there had been no internal discussions indicating Khawaja would end his international career.

The Australian opener is currently enjoying a short break with his family, but according to McDonald, there is no indication from the senior batter that Sydney will mark his final Test appearance for Whites. The coach pointed out that conversations around retirement usually come directly from the player and in Khawaja’s case, nothing of the sort was communicated.

McDonald stressed that Khawaja’s place in the team remains secure thanks to his performances during the year. Despite being 39 years old, the left-hander has continued to perform at the highest level, ensuring that selection decisions remain based on performance rather than influenced by age or external speculation. From a team management perspective, Khawaja has done enough to warrant his selection for the Sydney Test, with McDonald confidently stating that the opener should be in the middle again at the start of the match.

“He is currently with his family and taking a few days off. We are still discussing the player situation, there is no indication from my side that he is calling it up to Sydney. But his performance during this calendar year has been good enough to warrant selection, so I would say he will be there as a center in Sydney,” McDonald said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

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Khawaja’s call will be respected: McDonald

One of the key factors easing pressure on any immediate decision is Australia’s upcoming Test schedule. After the Sydney Test, the national team will play another Test only in August, when Bangladesh tours Australia. This series will be followed by a packed schedule, including a tour of South Africa, a home series against New Zealand and a challenging tour of India.

In total, Australia are scheduled to play 13 Tests between October and March, but the eight-month gap after the Ashes offers selectors valuable time. McDonald explained that this extended break allows the selection panel to calmly evaluate future combinations and plan the next phase without rushing into decisions regarding senior players.

McDonald made it clear that the decision was ultimately up to Khawaja. If the fly-half feels that the time has come to retire, the team management expects him to approach them directly. In the meantime, Australia is content to focus on the immediate task at hand rather than speculating on long-term changes.

“I think Uz will come to us if he wants to retire, there’s no doubt about that. And then after this Test match, we have eight months before the next one, so we have plenty of time as a selection panel to make that decision. If there was a series immediately after that, then it would be a bit different. But with the eight-month gap, as a selection panel, we have plenty of time to think about our next Test team if Uz goes forward.” » added McDonald.

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