Usman Khawaja has introduced his retirement from Take a look at cricket, launching a parting shot at reporters and critics for ‘racial stereotypes’ that he has been subjected to through the years.
After months of hypothesis round his future, Khawaja fronted a press convention in Sydney on Friday morning to substantiate he would retire from Worldwide cricket subsequent week.
The left-hander’s resolution means he’ll end with 88 Checks to his title, having already risen to be Australia’s fifteenth biggest run-scorer in historical past with 6206.
The 39-year-old revealed he provided to retire through the earlier summer season however Australia coach Andrew McDonald urged him to maintain taking part in.
Khawaja expressed frustration at former gamers and the media for ‘attacking’ him in recent times and ushering him in direction of retirement.
‘It felt like attacking. It was disappointing,’ Khawaja informed reporters.
‘Saying I used to be egocentric for staying on. However I wasn’t staying on for myself.
‘I suppose shifting into this sequence, I had an inkling this is able to be the final sequence.
Aussie Take a look at nice Usman Khawaja (pictured) has introduced he’ll retire on the finish of the upcoming Sydney Take a look at match
The left hander ends his profession with 88 Checks performed for his nation
‘I am glad I can exit alone phrases.’
He candidly informed how his spouse, Rachel, was enraged about criticism levelled at him following the primary Take a look at, the place he suffered again spasms.
‘She was blowing up,’ he mentioned. ‘I used to be simply laughing after which she acquired much more offended and mentioned, “why are you laughing?”‘
‘These are the identical racial stereotypes I have been getting my entire life…. I’ve by no means seen anybody handled like that within the Australian cricket crew earlier than’.
The decision to stroll away means the Sydney Take a look at can even flip into one thing of a farewell get together for the 39-year-old, with the sequence determined and Australia 3-1 up.
Khawaja’s Sydney exit is becoming, given a lot of his profession has been primarily based across the metropolis he moved to as a four-year-old from Islamabad.
‘This sport humbles you. It assessments your endurance, your resilience and character, and if you’re fortunate, it teaches you gratitude,’ he mentioned through the press convention.
‘I hope I’ve impressed youngsters alongside the best way,’ he added.
‘Significantly those that are totally different, people who really feel that they do not belong or these others inform that they’ll by no means make it.
‘Seeing is believing, and I’m right here to inform you that you are able to do no matter you need. You simply gotta preserve making an attempt.
‘I am a proud Muslim, colored boy from Pakistan who was informed that he would by no means play for the Australian cricket crew – take a look at me now.’
He made his debut on the SCG in 2011 in opposition to England, scoring a classy 37 that provided Australian followers hope on the finish of the worst residence summer season this century.
Khawaja’s first Ashes century got here on the floor as properly with a 171 in opposition to England in 2018 as Australia wrapped up a dominant 4-0 sequence victory.
And it was on the SCG the place he revived his profession as a 35-year-old, scoring twin centuries in opposition to England when Travis Head missed a Take a look at in 2022 by COVID.
The 39-year-old made the unhappy announcement in entrance of a plethora of journalists and media professionals
Khawaja (pictured) is seen as one among Australia’s biggest ever openers and scored twin comeback centuries when he final performed England in an Ashes Take a look at on the SCG in 2022
Khawaja’s place had come underneath extra scrutiny this summer season after being unable to open within the first Ashes Take a look at in Perth as a result of again spasms after which lacking the Brisbane Take a look at with the harm.
That Take a look at prompted one of many nice late-career revivals, hitting seven centuries in his first two years again within the aspect as a part of a dominant opening partnership with childhood good friend David Warner.
Khawaja’s resurgence additionally made him a real all-time nice within the Australian aspect, with 16 centuries and a mean of 43.39.
At age 39, he can even develop into Australia’s oldest Take a look at participant in 40 years on the SCG over the subsequent week.
He was then initially unnoticed in Adelaide earlier than Steve Smith’s vertigo allowed him to return, earlier than an 82 within the first innings ensured the left-hander would keep within the aspect for the fourth Take a look at in Melbourne.
Khawaja’s exit makes him simply the second participant after his good good friend David Warner to retire whereas nonetheless within the Take a look at crew prior to now decade, as Australia face a interval of transition over coming years.
Australia will look to ship Khawaja off on a excessive with a win when the ultimate Take a look at of the continued sequence begins on Sunday.
