Former Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie described Usman Khawaja's dramatic farewell speech, which included a segment about how he has been treated differently by the media because of his race, as a 'temper tantrum.'  

Usman Khawaja announced his retirement from all formats on January 2, 2026, and will play his farewell match in the fifth and final Test between Australia and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting January 4.

Born in Pakistan, Khawaja was the first Muslim cricketer to play for Australia and has scored 6206 runs at an average of 43.39 in 87 tests, and is considered one of the best openers in the modern era for Australia.

During his retirement speech, Khawaja stated that the hostility he received for playing golf for three days before the Perth Test—in which he sustained an injury and was ruled out—upset him deeply because it echoed racial stereotypes he had experienced throughout his career.  

He thought he was treated harsher than other Australian players in comparable situations, with his dedication and character being unfairly questioned.

Australian cricketers, like Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, have previously suffered golf-related injuries. Khawaja also described his criticism of highlighting the racial elements in the reports about him as 'gaslighting.'

“So, for me, I’ve been dealing with this stuff a long time. And for me, I know I’m up here talking about topics, and people are like, “Okay, Uzzy’s here; he’s playing the race card again, but don’t gaslight me,” Khawaja said during his speech.

Gillespie said he has always appreciated Khawaja's anti-racism stance, but that the media's inquiries over his decision to play golf before the first Ashes 2025-26 Test were not 'bullying' but rather a request for accountability.

“I’m not questioning the racism that Usman has faced throughout his life. I’ve actually always admired him and applauded him for speaking up because racism is a big stain on our society, and it always needs to be called out. He referenced racism when he was talking about the criticism that he received. A few former players came out and quite rightly questioned whether that [playing golf] was the best possible preparation,” Gillespie stated on ABC Sport.

He stated that being asked questions and being held accountable is not bullying but part and parcel of being a professional.

“Being questioned over that and being held to account over your choices—that’s not bullying, it’s not abuse; that’s all part and parcel of being a professional. You can’t really throw a temper tantrum when asked to take accountability for the job you’re actually paid to do," Gillespie added.