Australia’s Usman Khawaja will retire from worldwide cricket after the ultimate Ashes Check. Photograph: AFP
SYDNEY:
Usman Khawaja stated he hoped his lengthy take a look at profession, which is able to come to an finish along with his retirement after the fifth Ashes conflict, conjures up children who’re “completely different” that enjoying cricket for Australia is feasible.
The highest order batsman, who turned 39 final month, introduced on Friday that he could be retiring from worldwide cricket after his 88th take a look at, which is able to begin at Sydney Cricket Floor on Sunday.
Khawaja made his take a look at debut on the similar floor within the ultimate match of the 2010-11 Ashes collection and has since scored 6,206 runs at a mean of 43.39, together with 16 centuries.
Greater than his runs, nonetheless, Khawaja was a standard-bearer for variety in Australian cricket given he was born in Pakistan earlier than being raised in Sydney from the age of 5.
“I hope I’ve impressed many kids alongside the best way, notably those that really feel that they’re completely different, those that really feel that they do not belong, or these others inform that they are going to by no means make it,” Khawaja informed reporters at a press convention.
“I felt all this stuff rising up and making an attempt to be an Australian cricketer, however seeing is believing. And I am right here to let you know that you are able to do no matter you need. Simply acquired to maintain making an attempt.
“I am a proud Muslim colored boy from Pakistan who was informed that he would by no means play for the Australian cricket staff. Take a look at me now. You are able to do the identical.”
Khawaja batted for many of his take a look at profession on the prime of the center order however misplaced his spot within the aspect for the 2021-22 Ashes collection to Marnus Labuschagne.
He was, nonetheless, referred to as up on the final minute when Travis Head contracted COVID forward of the Sydney take a look at and revived his profession with centuries in each innings.
Opening with Warner
After that, Khawaja moved as much as kind a profitable opening partnership with David Warner, who retired from take a look at cricket after the SCG take a look at two years in the past.
On this Ashes collection, he injured his again within the opener in Perth and missed the second take a look at earlier than initially being dropped from the staff for the third in Adelaide.
He was once more recalled on the eleventh hour after Steve Smith suffered a bout of vertigo and, batting at quantity 4 fairly than opening, scored 82 and 40 as Australia gained by 82 runs to clinch the collection and retain the urn.
Khawaja stated his remedy by the media after the again damage in Perth was proof that he was nonetheless handled in a different way to different gamers due to his background.
“The way in which the media and the previous gamers got here out and attacked me … I copped it for about 5 days straight,” he recalled.
“It was fairly private when it comes to issues like, ‘he is not dedicated to the staff. He was solely apprehensive about himself. He performed this golf comp the day earlier than.
“He is egocentric. He would not practice arduous sufficient. He did not practice the day earlier than the sport. He is lazy’. These are the identical racial stereotypes I’ve grown up with my complete life.
“I simply need the journey for the following Usman Khawaja to be completely different,” he added. “I need you to deal with him the identical, not have racial stereotypes of who they could be.”
