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Senior Australian batter Usman Khawaja has confirmed that the 2025-26 Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will be the last of his career. Khawaja, who had called a press conference ahead of the final Ashes Test, confirmed speculation swirling around his future and will sign off where he started.
As the longest-serving player in the team, speculation overwhelmingly revolved around whether the Ashes series would be the last of his career. Having turned 39 during the Adelaide Test, he had earned a recall for the match due to Steve Smith’s dizziness-related illness.
Although Khawaja chipped in with crucial innings of 82 and 40 in that Test, the next match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was forgettable as Australia lost within two days. The left-hander will play his 88th and final Test in Sydney, where he made his debut in 2011.
Speaking to the press on Friday, Khawaja admitted that he never thought he would cry, but couldn’t stop after informing his teammates of the decision. He conceded, cited by cricket.com.au:
“It was hard, I just wanted to tell everyone. I told my teammates at the time. I didn’t think I would get emotional but I immediately cried and had to pull myself together. I finally managed to pull myself together and say what I wanted to say. I never thought I would be the guy who would cry when he retired, but I immediately cried. It just shows what that means to me. My journey has been different from that of a lot of cricketers in the Australian cricket team All this emotion built up.
The left-hander’s career was in the doldrums after he was left out of the eleven following the third Test of the 2019 Ashes series. But Khawaja sparked a stunning resurgence after earning a recall in the following Ashes series at home. The Australian batter had an average of 67.50 in 2022 and 52.60 in 2023.
‘Andrew McDonald didn’t beg’ – Usman Khawaja reveals conversation with Australia head coach
Khawaja then revealed that the head coach Andrew McDonald wanted the left-hander to continue until Australia‘s massive test tour to India in 2027, adding:
“Even last year when we got to Melbourne, I sat down with Andrew McDonald. I said to him, ‘You know what, at any time, if you want me to retire, I’ll retire straight away.’ 2027).”
Australia currently leads the 2025-26 Ashes series with 3-1 and will want to finish with a victory. The fifth and final Test begins on Sunday January 4 at the SCG.
Edited by Sooryanarayanan Sesha
