SYDNEY : Australia opener Usman Khawaja said he hopes his long Test career, which will conclude with his retirement after the fifth Ashes clash, inspires young players who feel “different” to believe that representing Australia is possible.
The 39-year-old announced on Friday that he will step away from international cricket after his 88th Test, which begins on Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground — the same venue where he made his debut during the 2010–11 Ashes series.
Since that first appearance, Khawaja has gone on to score 6,206 Test runs at an average of 43.39, including 16 centuries, establishing himself as one of Australia’s most reliable top-order batters of the modern era.
Beyond the numbers, Khawaja’s career has carried wider significance. Born in Pakistan and raised in Sydney from the age of five, he became a prominent symbol of diversity in Australian cricket.
“I hope I’ve inspired many children along the way, particularly those who feel that they are different, those who feel that they don’t belong, or those others tell that they will never make it,” Khawaja told reporters.
As he prepares for an emotional farewell at the SCG, Khawaja said his journey stands as proof that background should never be a barrier to ambition.
