Usman Khawaja announces his retirement from international cricket, SCG Test will be his final bow

Australian cricket will witness an emotional farewell this week Usman Khawaja confirmed that the fifth Ash test in return for England at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be the last appearance of his international career. The 39-year-old southpaw will draw the curtains on a remarkable 15-year test journey at the venue that launched his professional dream, closing a chapter marked by resilience, reinvention and historic milestones.

From local dreams to the biggest stage for Usman Khawaja

Khawaja informed his teammates of the decision on Friday morning and opted to step away after his 88th Test. His career started at the same venue in 2011 when he was injured Ricky Ponting opened the door for his debut. What followed was a path marked by patience and perseverance as Khawaja piled on 6,000 test drives and established himself as one of Australia’s most reliable hitters of modern times.

Reflecting on his journey, Khawaja spoke emotionally about growing up near the SCG and his dream of becoming a Test cricketer as he watched his heroes from afar. That childhood ambition, which arose in modest circumstances, eventually became a reality that few could have imagined.

Breaking barriers and redefining identity

Born in Pakistan and raised in Australia, Khawaja made history as the country’s first Pakistani-born and first Muslim Test cricketer. Identified early on for his good technique and calm temperament, he progressed through the Australia Under-19 ranks before moving up to the senior side. Throughout his career, Khawaja embraced his identity, often speaking about representation and pride, and became an inspirational figure beyond borders.

Khawaja’s international career has not been without challenges. After spells in and out of the Test side, he made a decisive move from New South Wales to Queensland in 2012. That shift proved transformative. He rebuilt his game in domestic cricket, leading Queensland to the Sheffield Shield title in the 2020-2021 season and surpassing 15,000 first-class runs in general: achievements that paved the way for a powerful international comeback.

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Axis redemption and career peak

The turning point came during the 2021-2022 Ashes series, when Khawaja returned to the Test side and marked the moment with two centuries at the SCG. He followed that up with productive tours of Pakistan and England, culminating in a standout performance at the 2023 Ashes where he finished as the leading run-scorer as Australia retained the urn. That same year he was honored as ICC Test Cricketer of the Year And Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Yearand played a crucial role in Australia’s World Test Championship victory.

A look at Khawaja’s international career

Format	Competitions	Running	Highest score	Average	100s	1950s
Testing	87	6206	232	43.39	16	28
ODIs	40	1554	104	42:00	2	12
T20Is	9	241	58	26.77	0	1

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