Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has advised Australian batter Usman Khawaja to retire on his own terms and decide his "destiny" in the Ashes finale, scheduled to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 4-8.
During the Ashes opener at Perth, Khawaja sustained back spasms and wasn’t able to open in the first innings due to time spent off the field. His condition deteriorated when he took the field for Australia's second bowling innings, ultimately ending his time in the second Test at Gabba.
The 39-year-old was not supposed to pick for the third Test, but Steve Smith’s battle with vertigo symptoms paved the way for his inclusion at the last minute. Khawaja produced knocks of 82 and 40 in Australia’s Ashes-clinching win at the Adelaide Oval, thereby retaining his place for the Boxing Day clash in Melbourne.
While there has been no official word from the southpaw, speculations are rife that the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney will be Khawaja’s swansong.
"I would say to Usman, 'Don't let them decide. You decide your destiny'. When someone has been playing for so long, we've just got to let them decide. Usman has had an incredible career and not many get the chance to say goodbye on their own terms at their own venue," Vaughan said as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Englishman further stated that ending his career at his home ground in an Ashes series would be ideal for Khawaja.
"If he doesn't do that, he runs the risk of his career ending not on his own terms. I can't think of a better way to say goodbye than at his home ground in an Ashes series. If Uzzie has got the energy and capacity to really want to fight on, yeah, I could see that happening, but leaving in Sydney in an Ashes series sounds pretty good to me," Vaughan added.
After Sydney, Australia’s next Test is scheduled against Bangladesh at home in August 2026. It will be followed by a tour of South Africa, a home series against New Zealand and a tour of India.
With eight months until the next Test assignment, selectors may have to force Usman Khawaja’s hand if he doesn’t make a call on his own. The left-hander has averaged 25.93 and 36.11 in the past two years. In 2025, he managed 614 runs in 18 innings with one fifty and one hundred to his name.
(With ANI Inputs)
