Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has announced that he will retire from international cricket with immediate effect after this weekend’s final Ashes Test in Sydney.
Khawaja has played 87 Tests for the Baggy Greens, scoring 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39, and will make his final appearance at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
With Australia not playing a Test match until they play Bangladesh in August, the 39-year-old, who has been in poor form over the past two calendar years and has seen his Test average drop, has decided to call time on his career.
With Australia already retaining The Ashes, Khawaja, who made his first-class cricket debut for New South Wales in 2008, has been given the chance to step down in fairytale fashion.
“I have come here today to announce that I will retire from all international cricket after the SCG Test match,” Khawaja told reporters at the ground. There, the fifth Test begins at 11:30pm UK time on Saturday.
“Cricket has given me so much more than I could have ever imagined. It has given me memories that will last forever, friendships that go beyond the game, and lessons that have shaped me off the field.”
Usman Khawaja made his Test debut against England in Sydney in 2011 (PA image)
The Islamabad-born batsman injured his lower back in the Ashes opener in Perth and missed the second Test, but was the first to be left out of the squad for the third Test in Adelaide.
Recalled at the 11th hour after Steve Smith suffered a dizziness attack, he batted at number four instead of opening and scored 82 and 40, with Australia winning by 82 runs to seal the series and retain the urn.
Khawaja, whose parents immigrated to Australia when she was eight years old, is the first Australian of Pakistani descent to represent Australia.
Since making his debut in the 2010-11 Ashes series, he went on to score 16 Test centuries for Australia.
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Despite losing the series, Joe Root says England will look to build on their win against Australia in the fourth Ashes Test as they prepare for the fifth and final match in Sydney.
Announcing his decision before the Sydney Test gives Australian fans the perfect opportunity to bid farewell to Khawaja for the final two innings.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke predicted Khawaja’s retirement earlier this week, telling CODE Sports: “Hopefully he can score big. I want to see Uzu score 100 at the SCG and leave on a high note because not many people get that opportunity.”
Khawaja has confirmed that he will continue to play Big Bash and Sheffield Shield cricket for Australia, but the 88th Test will be his last.
