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With Australia 2-1 up in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 after their comprehensive win by 184 runs in Melbourne Test, the action will now move to Sydney, where the two top quality teams will lock horns in the final Test, starting January 3. Ahead of the Sydney Test, former Australia captain Michael Clarke opened up on veteran Aussie batter Usman Khawaja’s potential retirement.
Khawaja, who had a dream run in 2023 in Test cricket, where he scored 1210 runs across 13 matches at an average of 52.60, failed to carry that momentum in 2024. In 2024, the 38-year-old could manage to get only 415 runs in nine matches, with his average dipping to 25.93. As a result of the same, the cricketing fraternity has started to hold talks around his potential retirement, including the likes of Michael Clarke.
A great opportunity for Uzzie to announce his retirement in Sydney: Michael Clarke
Speaking after the completion of the MCG Test, former Australia cricketer Michael Clarke opined that Sydney Test will be “a great opportunity” for Usman Khawaja to put down curtains on his Test career. “This is Uzzie's home Test match, the SCG. 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," Michael Clarke said on the Beyond 23 podcast.
“I know he would like to keep playing. His form has not been as good as he would like throughout this series. 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," he further added.
Talking about the veteran Australia opener, in his Test career spanning of 15 years, the left-handed batter has represented the side across 77 matches. While he made his debut in Sydney Test during 2010-11 Ashes series, his standout performance came during the 2023 Ashes, where he went onto score 496 runs in 10 innings at an average of 49.60.
