Usman Khawaja. Pic Credits: X

SL vs AUS : Usman Khawaja Denies Retirement Talks: Sets His Eyes On 2025-26 Ashes Series

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38-year-old Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has said that he is ready to retire from his Test career if it serves the national team. However, Usman Khawaja also clarified that he has no plans to retire as of now, as he gears up for the upcoming match against Sri Lanka. However, Usman Khawaja’s recent performances have led to speculation about his future in cricket.

Australia’s opening batter Usman Khawaja recently opened up on his retirement plans as he expressed his desire to play the Ashes later this year. In the recent Test series against India, all the members of the squad were above the age of 29 except debutants Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas.

Hence, the Aussie side is due for a transition in the coming years as a few senior players could well be seen hanging their boots. Usman Khawaja also acknowledged that his time could well be due in the coming years but expressed his desire to play for the country as long as he can.

Usman Khawaja’s impressive Test career and current performances sparks retirements calls

Usman Khawaja the left handed batter who has played 78 Tests (141 innings) has amassed 5,635 runs at an average of 44.02. Additionally, he owns 15 tons and 27 fifties while boasting a high score of 195* against South Africa in 2023. Overall, during the 2024 calendar year, Khawaja managed just 415 runs at an average of 25.93.

Notably, this was a drastic downfall in his numbers as compared 2023, 2022. Usman Khawaja also smashed two fifties (no tons) while his highest score read 75. Usman Khawaja’s future in cricket had been a talking point after he failed to shine in the first three India Tests. However, his performance improved drastically with new opening partner Sam Konstas. Meanwhile, he scored a half-century in the MCG Test win and contributed 41 runs in the SCG run chase, helping Australia reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade.

Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja hasn’t been in the best of forms since 2024 having scored 458 runs from ten matches (20 innings) at an average of 22.9 with two half-centuries. Usman Khawaja was last seen in action during the five-match Test series against India, where the Pat Cummins-led team secured a 3-1 victory. The left-handed batter scored 184 runs at a dismal average of 20.44, with just one half-century in ten innings. He was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah six times in nine innings.

Veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja has opened up about his plans for retirement from Test cricket ahead of the upcoming two-match series in Sri Lanka. Usman Khawaja stated that he remains eager to continue playing as long as he can contribute effectively, adding that he tries not to think too far ahead.

Usman Khawaja Denies Retirement Talks as he sets his eyes on 2025-26 Ashes Series

Australia’s veteran opening batter, Usman Khawaja remains wary of the time he would need to call time on his career for the betterment of the team, but he has no plans on ending his Test career anytime soon ahead of the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka. His future with the Test team was under the spotlight after his disappointing home series against Australia where he scored only two scores over 20 runs during the five-match affair.

“Over the next three to four years, there’s going to be a lot of transition going on,” Khawaja said as quoted by cricket.com.au.

“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’,” he added.

The opening batter is open about his talks regarding retirement but has a target set for the upcoming Ashes. But he is willing to continue as long as his body continues to respond to the vigorous demands of the five-day format.

“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,” he shared.

“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),” he added.

Usman Khawaja remains wary of the challenges that come with playing in the subcontinent. But his record indicates that he seems to have a good handle on playing in such conditions. In the 14 Tests, he has a total of 1083 runs at an average of 51.57 with five fifties and three tons to his name.

“(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,” he concluded.

 Usman Khawaja will open the batting for the two Tests against Sri Lanka in Galle. However, the decision comes after he led all run-scorers on either side when Australia last toured India in 2023. Despite being criticized for his performance in Asia, Khawaja’s brilliant 141 runs against Pakistan in Dubai in 2018 and his return as Australia’s most reliable batter in India has silenced doubts about his form. The southpaw will be eager to bounce back to form in the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka set to begin from 29th January.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights

 


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