Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke has said that Usman Khawaja will definitely be picked for the Sydney Test, the final one of the Ashes, adding that he believes it will be Khawaja’s last appearance
in Australia whites. The latter has featured in the middle order during the last two Tests in Adelaide and Melbourne, with speculation mounting about his future in the longest format.
Clarke feels Khawaja should consider retiring from international cricket after the Sydney Test against England. This year, the latter struggled with the bat, scoring 614 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 36.11, including one hundred and one fifty.
Khawaja began the year on a high with a 232-run knock against Sri Lanka in January but had to wait 11 months for his next half-century, which came against England in the Adelaide Test.
“I think this will be Usman’s farewell Test. I don’t think it is a token selection; they obviously picked him for Melbourne, so if they have gone that way, you pick him for Sydney as well,” Clarke said while speaking to Code Sports.
“But I think he will retire after this Test. Australia will win the series. Hopefully, he goes out with a big score. I would love to see Uz make a hundred at the SCG and walk away on a high because not many people get that opportunity,” Clarke added.
Khawaja featured in the Ashes opener against England in Perth but suffered an injury mid-game, prompting Travis Head to open and deliver a match-winning knock, giving Australia a 1-0 lead.
Khawaja missed the second Test and was all set to sit out the Adelaide clash, but Steve Smith’s vertigo permitted him to play in the middle order.
Head was promoted to opener in the second innings at Perth when Khawaja was sidelined with back spasms and has kept the position, cracking two hundreds.
