Ashes Finale Turns Emotional as Usman Khawaja Calls Time on International Career

The final Test of the ongoing Ashes series, the fifth Test, is expected to be held on the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting from the fourth of next month. Australia is presently leading the series with a margin of 3-1. Prior to the Test match in Sydney, Australian legendary batsman Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement. Khawaja announced the news of his retirement in a press conference.

Khawaja, aged 39, will call it quits with his international career after the game against Sydney. Usman Khawaja has had an unfortunate series in the ongoing Ashes series. Usman Khawaja could not perform well in the first test, and he had to withdraw from the second test because of an injury. Finally, he was picked after last-minute changes because Steve Smith was ill. He retained his place in the team in Melbourne. He is also certain to be selected in the playing eleven for the Sydney Test. He has scored 2, 82, 40, 29, and 0 in this series.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Usman Khawaja said emotionally, "Today I am here to announce that after the SCG Test match, I will retire from all forms of international cricket." He further said, "Through cricket, God has given me more than I ever imagined. This game has given me priceless memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. It has given me relationships that go far beyond the boundaries of the field. It has also taught me lessons that have shaped me into the person I am today, even off the field."

Khwaja extended his retirement announcement beyond a personal achievement, saying, "No career belongs to one person alone. I have clearly received the support and cooperation of many people." He turned to his parents and said, "Mom and Dad, thank you for the sacrifices that never made it to the highlights reel."

Khwaja smiled and said, "Interestingly, I live on Cook Road, just a short distance from the SCG. I grew up there as a child. When my parents were barely making ends meet in a small two-bedroom apartment to raise their children, as a child I dreamed, 'One day I will become a Test cricketer.'"

Khwaja has so far scored over 8,000 runs in international cricket across all three formats. He has played 87 Tests, 40 ODIs, and 9 T20 Internationals. He was also named the 'Men's Test Cricketer of the Year' in 2023. Khawaja, who made his Test debut in 2011, has so far scored 6,206 runs in 157 innings across 87 Tests at an average of 43.39, scoring 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries.