Last Updated:
The 38-year-old left-handed batter has been horribly out of form and has only managed to score 138 runs in the ongoing Test series between India and Australia.
Michael Clarke wants Usman Khawaja to retire after ongoing 5th Test between India and Australia. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Former Australian men’s cricket team captain Michael Clarke wants a 38-year-old star batter to announce his retirement after the ongoing fifth Test between India and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground. The fifth and final Test of the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicked off at the SCG on Friday, January 3, and according to Clarke, star Australian opening batter Usman Khawaja should quit Test cricket after this match.
“This is Uzzie’s home Test match, the SCG,” Clarke said on the Beyond 23 podcast.
“He has been an amazing player, absolutely an amazing player. Come back in, score runs overseas, score runs in Australia. He is 38 years of age; I think it could be a great opportunity for Uzzie to announce his retirement and Sydney to be his last Test.”
“I know he would like to keep playing. His form has not been as good as he would like throughout this series. I also think that could be a great opportunity for a new player to come in, open the batting, and get some Test match cricket under their belt before the first Ashes Test match,” he added.
Khawaja has been horribly out of form in the ongoing Test series against India. In eight innings he has only managed to score 141 runs with an average of 20.14.
Former Baggy Greens’ captain Mark Taylor also echoed Clarke’s sentiment and said selectors might have to manage some players into retirement.
“There’s no doubt this side isn’t going to need to recoup over the next two or three years, and selectors are going to have to be tough at times because I think players are less likely to retire these days, so therefore selectors have to be a little more ruthless,” Taylor told 2GB radio on Thursday.
Sam Konstas made his Test debut for Australia in the Boxing Day Test and scored 60 runs from 65 balls as an opener in the first innings. He is seen as a long-term replacement of David Warner by many former greats of the game. As Khawaja’s replacement, Australian selectors could shift their attention to Nathan MsSweeney, who opened for the Pat Cummins-led side in the first three Tests.
- Location :
Sydney, Australia
