‘Lot of people telling me how I should go’- Usman Khawaja reacts to Michael Clarke’s ‘retirement’ comments after Galle ton

Usman Khawaja, Australia’s opener, responded forcefully to those who have criticized him, notably former Australian captain Michael Clarke, who suggested that the seasoned batsman ought to retire following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25. On Day 1 of the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle, Khawaja returned the favor to those who had previously written him off with an outstanding undefeated century.

After a terrible home series against India, Khawaja’s future in the Australian Test team has been called into question. The 38-year-old scored just 184 runs at a dismal average of 20.44, which led many, including Clarke, to say that the Sydney Test would have been the perfect send-off for him.

“This is the SCG, Uzzie’s home Test match. He has been a fantastic player—a very remarkable one. Return, score runs in Australia, score runs abroad. On the ‘Beyond 23’ podcast earlier this month, Clarke stated, “I think it could be a great opportunity for Uzzie to announce his retirement, and Sydney be his last Test.” He is 38 years old (via Indian Express).

But the southpaw made the most of the opportunity, hitting his 16th Test century on Galle’s shifting pitch, and kept his spot for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Australia was in a dominant position after his first double century and Steve Smith’s 35th Test century. In the meantime, Khawaja addressed the rumors surrounding his career in a statement following the play on the first day.

It’s been a difficult summer, and I believe I ended it rather effectively, but I received a lot of advice about how to proceed with my job and what I should do moving forward. After I finish this game, I will have a family and lovely children. It’s good to achieve 100 after the summer since it was a difficult season, but I’m very relaxed with everything,” Khawaja remarked.

I’m not only playing cricket to get tons of runs because I’m gluttonous: Usman Khawaja

He added that rather than focusing on achieving personal goals, he wants to help Australia succeed. Australia will play South Africa in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final, followed by home Ashes series and travels to the West Indies, as the current series is the last stage of the WTC cycle.

“The team is the only reason I’m here. ‘I don’t care what happens, just make sure you’re on the Sri Lankan trip,’ Andrew McDonald told me last year. My desire to score a lot of runs isn’t the only reason I play cricket. My life won’t change because of sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen hundred,” Khawaja continued.