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Usman Khawaja to walk away from international cricket following SCG Test
Usman Khawaja has chosen the most personal of stages for his final act in Test cricket. Australia’s senior batter confirmed on Friday that the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney will be his last appearance in the longest format, bringing down the curtain on a terrific career. The match will be his 88th Test.
Khawaja spoke to the media at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday morning, revealing his decision only moments after informing his Australian teammates ahead of their training session.
"I lived just up the road from the SCG, on Cook Road, to be exact. 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,'" Khawaja said at the press conference.
"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."
Sydney holds special significance for Khawaja. Having migrated to Australia as a child and grown up in the city’s western suburbs, his journey from local cricket to the Australian legend has been an extraordinary inspiration. Sydney is the ground where he made his debut against England in 2011.
"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. Eighty-eight Test matches, Dad. Is that enough? Okay."
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