Usman Khawaja to retire after SCG Test

Usman Khawaja has announced that he will retire from international cricket after this week's fifth Ashes Test against England. The match will be his 88th and final Test and will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), where he began his first-class career.

The 39-year-old informed his teammates on Friday morning, bringing an end to a Test career that began in 2011 after Ricky Ponting's injury opened the door for him at the SCG. Khawaja went on to score more than 6000 Test runs across a 15-year international career.

"I lived just up the road from the SCG, on Cook Road, to be exact," Khawaja said in an emotional retirement speech. "And I'll never forget when I was younger, I saw Michael Slater drive in his red Ferrari I couldn't believe my luck, I just saw a Test cricketer. And as a boy whose parents were barely scraping through and trying to provide for their kids in a little two-bedroom apartment, I thought, 'One day I'm going to be a Test cricketer, and one day I can drive whatever I want'.

"Never did I think that God would grant me such a wish.

"I'm here to announce today that I'll be retiring from all international cricket after the SCG Test match."

Born in Pakistan and raised in Australia, Khawaja became the country's first Pakistan-born and first Muslim Test cricketer. A former Australia Under-19 player, he was identified early as a technically sound left-hander, known for his composure and strong cut and pull shots.

"I'm a proud Muslim coloured boy from Pakistan who was told he would never play for the Australian cricket team. Look at me now," Khawaja said.

"I hope I repaid your sacrifice in leaving everything behind in Pakistan to come to Australia to give us kids a better life," he said while addressing his parents in his speech.

"Eighty-eight Test matches, Dad, is that enough? Okay (laughs)."

After an up-and-down start to his international career and multiple periods out of the Test side, Khawaja rebuilt himself in domestic cricket following his move from New South Wales to Queensland in 2012. He captained Queensland to the Sheffield Shield title in the 2020-21 season and scored more than 15,000 first-class runs overall.

Khawaja's Test career was revived decisively during the 2021-22 Ashes, when he marked his return with twin centuries at the SCG. He followed that with prolific runs in Pakistan and England, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the 2023 Ashes, where Australia retained the urn.

In 2023, Khawaja was named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Year, and played a key role in Australia's World Test Championship triumph.

Khawaja said he felt content with what he had achieved.

"As I walk off for the last time I do so with gratitude and peace, or as we say, salaam, grateful for the journey, the people, the lessons. Thank you for letting me live my dream and for sharing it with me," Khawaja said.

Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia CEO said: "Usman has made a huge contribution to Australian cricket both through his outstanding achievements as one of our most stylish and resilient batters since his Test debut 15 years ago, and off field, particularly through the Usman Khawaja Foundation.

"On behalf of Australian Cricket I would like to thank and congratulate Usman for all he has achieved.

"Usman has been one of Australia's most reliable opening batters and testament to his success was him being named ICC Test cricketer of the year the same season that Australia won the World Test Championship.

"We look forward to celebrating his significant contribution to the game at the Pink Test this week."