Australia veteran batter Usman Khawaja was greeted by a guard of honor from the England players on Day 5 of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as he set out for his final international outing. The southpaw had announced his decision to retire ahead of the series finale on his home ground, and was met with a warming reception from both the opposition and the crowd.
Usman Khawaja came into bat at No.5 in the run chase after Australia lost a few quick wickets after a promising start. With the score reading 92-3, the hosts were within touching distance of the target and a 4-1 series scoreline.
England players lined up on both sides near the pitch as Khawaja made his way out to bat amid a raucous reception from the home crowd. The veteran acknowledged the opposition players, even shaking captain Ben Stokes’ hand, before marking his guard at the striker’s end. Have a look at the moment right here:
Unfortunately, Khawaja’s stay at the crease did not last long as he was dismissed for six runs off seven deliveries in his final international outing. After chopping a Josh Tongue delivery back onto the stumps, he had to make the long walk back to the pavilion. He embraced his teammate Marnus Labuschagne, and acknowledged the crowd’s warm reception before stepping off the field.
“I struggled to keep my emotions in check” – Usman Khawaja on playing his final Test during 2025-26 Ashes
Usman Khawaja had a roller-coaster of a final series and Test as he had to settle for a middle-order role after a long time. The batter made a massive impact in Steve Smith’s absence during the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, where is 82 and 40 in the first and second innings, respectively, helped Australia seal the series with ease.
“It means a great deal to me. A lot of effort and emotion went into it, and more than anything, all I wanted was the win — even more than scoring the finishing runs. Throughout the Test, I struggled to keep my emotions in check and found it difficult to stay fully focused at times. I’m incredibly thankful for the career I’ve had and feel nothing but gratitude. It got closer than we would’ve liked — you can never take anything for granted. But in the end, we managed to get the job done,” Khawaja said during the post-match presentation.
Usman Khawaja has confirmed that he will be available to play for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL) as well as domestic cricket for Queensland, down the line.
Edited by Gokul Nair
