Following the conclusion of the fifth Ashes Test at the storied Sydney Cricket Ground, batter Usman Khawaja said goodbye to an incredible international career. In the middle of his most recent Test series, the opening batsman shown his versatility by moving to middle order to help the squad, which helped Australia win the Ashes 2025–26 by a commanding 4-1.
According to Khawaja, the victory over England in the New Year’s Test, which was also his final international match, meant a great deal to him. It wasn’t meant to be, although the Southpaw did lose out on scoring the game-winning runs. The seasoned cricket player claimed that he had a rough time focussing and that the entire match was like an emotional rollercoaster. But he is pleased that the Australians ultimately completed the task.
It has great significance. It has taken a lot of work. As much as I wanted to hit the game-winning runs, all I wanted was to win. I struggled to keep my emotions in check for the entire Test match. In the middle, I had trouble focussing. I am appreciative of the career I have had. I am really appreciative. Undoubtedly, it became a little too tight. You never take anything for granted. However, we completed the task,” Khawaja said via Fox Cricket following the game.
Contrary to what he would have imagined his final dance to be, Khawaja did not have the best of the series.
With just one half-century, an 82 during the Pink Ball Test, the left-handed hitter amassed 176 runs in four games. After missing the match in Brisbane, he came back to play in his final two games wearing an Australian jersey at the MCG and the SCG.
Regarding his international career, the 39-year-old, who had represented Australia in all three cricket formats, bid farewell to the sport. He doesn’t have really impressive white-ball stats. Khawaja amassed 1554 runs at an average of 42.00 in 40 ODIs, including 12 fifties and two hundreds. He scored 241 runs in nine innings throughout T20Is, with the highest score of 58.
Despite this, he is one of Australia’s most successful openers in recent cricket thanks to his remarkable Test records. Khawaja amassed 6229 runs at an average of 42.95 after 88 games, including 16 hundreds and 28 half-centuries. Khawaja has at least a century against every significant Test-playing country, with the exception of Bangladesh.
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