'As Long As We're Winning...': Khawaja Denies Retirement Talks; Eyes 2025-26 Ashes Series
Usman Khawaja discusses his future in Test cricket, aiming for the Ashes but open to retirement when the time is right.
Australia’s veteran opening batter, Usman Khawaja remains wary of the time he would need to call time on his career for the betterment of the team, but he has no plans on ending his Test career anytime soon ahead of the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.
His future with the Test team was under the spotlight after his disappointing home series against Australia where he scored only two scores over 20 runs during the five-match affair.
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“Over the next three to four years, there’s going to be a lot of transition going on," Khawaja said as quoted by cricket.com.au.
“I’m quite attuned to that and I still want to play and I want to keep playing for as long as I can. But I also know there might be a right time to slip out. If I’m still playing and the selectors are like, ‘We feel like the time’s come’, it’s, ‘You let me know and I can slide out’," he added.
The opening batter is open about his talks regarding retirement but has a target set for the upcoming Ashes. But he is willing to continue as long as his body continues to respond to the vigorous demands of the five-day format.
“There’s definitely those thoughts (bowing out in Sydney) in my head, I’m not afraid to talk about that. I’m human. I’d still like to play the Ashes at a bare minimum. I try not to think too far ahead, that’s as far ahead as I’ll think," he shared.
“As long as we’re winning, I’m still contributing, my body’s still feeling good, I’ll play. For me it always feels more like one summer at a time (rather than retiring after the Ashes)," he added.
Khawaja remains wary of the challenges that come with playing in the subcontinent. But his record indicates that he seems to have a good handle on playing in such conditions. In the 14 Tests, he has a total of 1083 runs at an average of 51.57 with five fifties and three tons to his name.
“(Playing on the subcontinent) has been a love-hate relationship. (But) there’s going to be times when you score runs, times you don’t score runs. You respect that the older you get. Cricket always ebbs and flows. I’m very attuned to that now," he concluded.
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