Usman Khawaja, the veteran Australian cricketer, is at home now in a well-earned short break with his family after a grueling series. Khawaja just turned 39 on December 3rd. His future in the sport is unclear, and it will continue to generate debate until he announces retirement from the sport whenever that may be. He was subsequently ruled out of the third Test with a back injury. Not surprisingly, this opened the door to questions about his long-term position on the USMNT roster.
Khawaja’s recent performances at the Adelaide Oval were memorable, where he piled up gutsy all-weather innings of 82 and 40 to keep his team in the series. His career with the Australian team opened at the SCG against England in 2011. After all, that venue is extremely special to him, personally. He’s preparing for what would be his last run at this legendary field. So are fans, who can’t wait to welcome him home.
A Promising Yet Uncertain Future
Indeed, Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged as much after confirming Khawaja would be back to play at the SCG. This follows Khawaja being ruled out of the third Test through injury. This decision comes as the curtailment in Khawaja’s international career has drawn much discussion over the last several months.
“We’re always having conversations about where players are at … there’s no indication at my end that he’s calling it in Sydney,” said McDonald.
Khawaja’s form during this calendar year has been stellar, solidifying his spot in the side. McDonald expressed confidence in Khawaja’s selection, stating, “His performance in this calendar year has been good enough to warrant selection, so I’d say he’ll be there marking centre in Sydney.”
Whether talk of his retirement is premature or not, McDonald is unequivocal. We’ll leave it to Khawaja to address the particularities to the team when the time comes,” he said.
“He’ll come to us if he’s going to retire, there’s no doubt about that,” McDonald added.
The SCG Legacy
Usman Khawaja’s attachment to the Sydney Cricket Ground is as personal as it gets. He migrated from Pakistan and grew up in Sydney. As a 17-year-old, he made his Test debut at this very venue. Now, he’s left with the prospect of ending his playing career at the same crumbling-littered pitch where it all started.
If this does turn out to be his last appearance, you can be sure the Sydney crowd will welcome him one last time. McDonald noted, “If Uz makes no statement around his future leading into that Test match, that crowd will still be very supportive of him.”
It’s been far from easy going for the Australian top-order through this series. Khawaja’s injury worries complicate matters for the full team. Jake Weatherald, their debutant opener, number three Marnus Labuschagne, and all-rounder Cameron Green have all failed to fire. As the team prepares for upcoming matches—including a likely Test against Bangladesh in Darwin and North Queensland in eight months—the selectors are considering potential replacements. Beau Webster has been mentioned as a potential successor should Khawaja choose to leave the game.
Looking Ahead
Even as these conversations about the future of the national team and underperforming individuals continues, the focus should be entirely on Khawaja’s performance and wellbeing. The upcoming Test at the SCG against England promises to be a critical moment not only for him but for fans who have followed his career closely.
McDonald acknowledged the unique timing of Khawaja’s case. As he said, “If there’s another series right on the heels of this, it would definitely be a different reality.” With such a long break before Australia’s next Test series, the anticipation surrounding Khawaja’s potential farewell adds an emotional layer to this sporting event.
