Australia Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has made a special request for Usman Khawaja ahead of his farewell Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Khawaja announced his international retirement ahead of the fifth Test of the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes series in Sydney.
Because the 39-year-old is ready to hang up his boots, Pat Cummins congratulated his teammate on a successful career and asked him to score one more century on his home ground so he could bow out in style. Khawaja made his Test debut in Sydney in 2011 against England during the fifth Test of the 2010–11 Ashes series.
“Congratulations on an incredible career mate. Another home century,” Cummins wrote on his Instagram story, sharing a photo with Khawaja. Pat Cummins Instagram Story (Source: Patcummins30)
Khawaja boasts a phenomenal record at the venue, scoring 875 runs from nine matches (14 innings) at an average of 87.5, with four hundreds and one fifty. It was in Sydney that Khawaja made an emphatic return to the Test team after more than two years, registering two centuries at the venue during the 2021–22 Ashes series.
After his comeback, Khawaja enjoyed two years of prolific run and played a major role in Australia’s 2–2 series draw in England in 2023. He finished as the series’ top scorer with 496 runs to his credit. However, his form dipped from 2024, scoring 1,029 runs at an average of 31.18, with one century and three half-centuries in his last 19 Tests (36 innings).
In addition, injuries have added to his woes in the ongoing seriesbecause he suffered back spasms during the first Test in Perth, which also ruled him out of the second Test in Brisbane. He eventually found his place back in the playing XI for the third Test, with Steve Smith sidelined due to illness.
Khawaja has played 87 Tests, 40 ODIs and nine T20Is in his career so far, scoring 8,001 runs in international cricket, including 18 centuries and 41 half-centuries. He also played a key role in Australia’s 2019 ODI series win in India, scoring 383 runs from five innings at an average of 76.60, scoring two hundreds and as many fifties.
Retiring in Sydney would be a fitting way for Khawaja to draw the curtains on his illustrious career as he made his international debut at the same venue. He will now join a long list of Australian cricketers who have chosen to hang up their boots at the historic SCG.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
January 2, 2026
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