Usman Khawaja’s Future in Test Cricket: Retirement Talks Begin

Usman Khawaja in Test cricket: 2023 was a dream year for Usman Khawaja in Test cricket, where he scored 1210 runs in 13 matches at an average of 52.60. However, 2024 is nowhere near the year for Australia’s premier opening batsman. After an impressive 2023, Khawaja has managed to score just 415 runs in nine matches and his average has dropped to 25.93, which is low for his reputation.

Usman Khawaja’s Decline in Form Sparks Retirement Talks

As a result, the cricket fraternity has started talking about the 38-year-old’s possible retirement. Adding to that, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has opined that Khawaja should hang up his boots from international cricket with the ongoing New Year Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Khawaja’s home ground. Sydney.

“This is Uzi’s home Test match, SCG. He is an amazing player, an amazing player. Come back, score overseas, score in Australia. He’s 38, I think it’s a great opportunity for Uzi to announce his retirement and Sydney will be his last Test,” Clarke said on the Beyond 23 podcast.

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Michael Clarke Suggests Retirement at SCG

I know he would love to keep playing. His form has not been what it should have been throughout this series. I know we’ve got the tour to Sri Lanka and then we’ve got the Ashes. There’s a lot of cricket in between, but I also think it could be a great opportunity for new players to come in, open the batting, get a few Tests under their belt before the first Ashes Test,” he added

Khawaja’s Legacy and Australia’s Next Opening Options

Khawaja’s Test career spans nearly fifteen years so far. The left-handed batsman made his debut in the Sydney Test of the 2010-11 edition of the Ashes and has since represented the Baggy Greens in 77 matches. The Islamabad-born player has scored 5,592 runs at an impressive 44.38.

His best performance came in the 2023 Ashes where he was the orchestrator with the bat for Australia, scoring 496 runs in 10 innings at an average of 49.60.

If the batsman starts calling him a day after the fifth and final Test against India, Australia will have to consider replacing him. Currently, Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas appear to be on the radar for the spot and one of the duo is expected to partner Cameron Green once the all-rounder returns from injury.