Usman Khawaja officially announces retirement plans ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

Veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja has opened up about his plans for retirement from Test cricket ahead of the upcoming two-match series in Sri Lanka. Khawaja stated that he remains eager to continue playing as long as he can contribute effectively, adding that he tries not to think too far ahead.

Khawaja was last seen in action during the five-match Test series against India, where the Pat Cummins-led team secured a 3-1 victory. The left-handed batter scored 184 runs at a dismal average of 20.44, with just one half-century in ten innings. He was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah six times in nine innings.

There's Going to Be a Lot of Transition Going On - Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja acknowledged the inevitable transitions in Test cricket over the next three to four years. Khawaja said that he wants to keep playing for as long as he can but added that if selectors feel it is time for him to step aside, he would respect their decision and exit gracefully.

"Over the next three to four years, there's going to be a lot of transition going on," Khawaja said.

"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.

Australia's squad for the upcoming two-match series highlights the team's preparation for a transition phase. Among the XI players who secured victory in the India series in Sydney, only Konstas was under 30. Cooper Connolly and Nathan McSweeney have been added to the squad for the series.

I'd Still Like to Play the Ashes at a Bare Minimum - Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja is hesitant to set a specific retirement timeline but hopes to be part of Australia's squad for the 2025/26 Ashes series against England. The southpaw stated that he is taking it 'one summer at a time' is better than planning beyond that.

"There's definitely those thoughts (bowing out in Sydney) in my head, I'm not afraid to talk about that. I'm human," Khawaja said.

"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. 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)."

It's Been a Love-Hate Relationship - Usman Khawaja

The 38-year-old is set to open the batting for Australia in the series, considering his strong performance during the 2023 India tour, where he was the top run-scorer. Khawaja, who had previously faced criticism for his record in Asia, now feels more at ease with the natural ups and downs of cricket.

"(Playing on the subcontinent) has been a love-hate relationship," he said.

"(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."

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