Australia’s experienced opening batsman Usman Khawaja has not been able to perform well so far in the ongoing five-Test series against India. He has scored only one half-century in 8 innings. Australia leads the series 2-1, and the last Test will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on January 3. Meanwhile, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has given Khawaja a biting advice, suggesting that the Sydney Test could be the right time for his retirement as he is no longer as effective.
“Usman will play home Test matches at the SCG,” Clarke said on the “Beyond 23” podcast. He has been a brilliant player and has scored runs abroad and in Australia. Now he is 38 years old. I think this could be a great opportunity for him to announce his retirement. Sydney could be his last test.” However, Clarke feels that Khawaja would still like to continue playing.
Clarke further said, “I know he will want to continue playing. His form throughout the India series was not as good as he wanted. We have to tour Sri Lanka and then also play the Ashes. In the meantime there is lots of cricket. But I think this could be a great opportunity for a new player to start the innings. The new opener will get to play some Test matches before the Ashes series starts.”
Khawaja’s performance in Test cricket in 2023 was memorable, in which he scored 1210 runs in 13 matches at an average of 52.60. However, his performance in 2024 was not impressive. In nine matches last year, he scored only 415 runs, causing his average to drop to 25.93. Khawaja’s Test career has been excellent. He made his debut in the Sydney Test of the 2010–11 Ashes and has played 77 Test matches so far, in which he has scored 5592 runs at an average of 48.16, which includes 15 centuries and 27 half-centuries.
