Michael Clarke says Usman Khawaja should retire after Sydney Test
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has weighed in on the future of a current star as the fifth Test draws closer.
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Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has called for Usman Khawaja to hang up the bat following the Sydney Test.
Khawaja has struggled to have a major impact with the bat against India, scoring only 141 runs across eight innings with an average of 20.14.
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His output puts him sixth on the list of Australian run scorers, contributing less with the bat than skipper Pat Cummins who has scored 149 runs at 21.28.
As Australia prepare to head into the fifth and final Test needing a win or a draw to capture the Border-Gavaskar trophy, Clarke believes it could be the perfect time for Khawaja to bid farewell.
“This is Uzzie’s home Test match, the SCG,” Clarke said on the Beyond 23 podcast.
“He has been an amazing player, absolutely 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.”
While Khawaja has previously said he wants to keep playing with an Ashes series on the horizon, Clarke says the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka presents selectors with a golden opportunity to give a new opener time at the crease.
“I know he would like to keep playing. His form has not been as good as he would like throughout this series,” Clarke said.
“I know we have got a trip to Sri Lanka, and then we have got the Ashes.
“There is a lot of cricket in between, but I also think that could be a great opportunity for a new player to come in, open the batting, get some Test match cricket under their belt before the first Ashes Test match.”
Khawaja was asked about his future plans ahead of the third Test in Adelaide and said he had no intentions of hanging up the bat.
“If everything is going well there is no reason why I would not want to play another summer in Australia. My body is good, my mind is good and I am still hitting the ball well,” Khawaja said.
“It (a series against India) is awesome to play, it’s massive, but the pride and joy and tradition of playing in the Ashes, there’s nothing like it. The emotion involved, you saw it last Ashes both on and off the field, there’s just so much involved with it. It’s pretty special.”
Khawaja will have another chance to prove he belongs at the top of the order when the fifth Test between Australia and India gets underway at the SCG on Friday, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEDT.
Originally published as Michael Clarke says Usman Khawaja should retire after Sydney Test
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