Usman Khawaja's huge call on Test future amid David Warner farewell uncertainty
The 36-year-old Aussie opener has opened up about his future in the baggy green.
Aussie opener Usman Khawaja has admitted he isn't looking to put down the bat anytime soon and said he will take it one summer of cricket at a time before making a decision. Khawaja was Australia's standout batter during the Ashes and topped the batting score chart across both sides.
Although Khawaja is coming towards the end of his career having turned 36 years old, despite an incredible late career resurgence that saw him win the latest Allan Border Medal. Australia is already losing David Warner next to retirement, which leaves a position at the top of the order open.
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And while Khawaja's retirement would throw the batting line-up in disarray, the opener has admitted he is still enjoying his cricket and isn't ready to call time just yet.
"In 2025 … one series at a time I go with," Khawaja said. "You can get ahead of yourself and look to that time (in 2025) and think, 'I can probably get there', but I don't want to (do that).
"I like playing one summer at a time and seeing how the body is going, how the mind is going and whether I am enjoying it. It is those three things. I am ticking those three boxes at the moment so I will keep playing."
Usman Khawaja speaks out on Ashes thriller
Khawaja is back from a thrilling Ashes series, which saw Australia retain the urn after a 2-2 draw. The series was one of the most controversial in recent memories with Jonny Bairstow's dismissal in the second test and the drama surrounding the ball change in the fifth test creating division.
Regardless, the drama served up was a brilliant advertisement for test cricket and Khawaja reflected on the series as a whole. "I have had so many people come up to me and tell me how good the Test series was. So for cricket ... cricket definitely won," he said. "I've had more than 50 people tell me the last couple of weeks how much sleep they lost watching the Ashes.
"We would have loved to have won but we have now retained (or won) four Ashes series in a row ... 2019 and 2023 in England. The last time England won in Australia was 2010-11, when I debuted.
"So we've been dominating Ashes cricket for a long time and that is the bigger picture. England is going to have to come back here and beat us and do something they haven't done for a very long time."
Warner intends to play in two more test series before calling time on his career after the SCG test in the summer. And Khawaja said there are a number of bright stars who will be ready to take his place. "Marcus Harris has been travelling with us a lot, everywhere we go. It would be remiss to think that he is not the next in line to open the batting for Australia," Khawaja said.
"(In Queensland) Matt Renshaw has been around and playing some beautiful cricket, and scored a Test hundred in Sydney early on (in his career). Then there's the likes of Cameron Bancroft, who played really well too in WA and has played for Australia also."
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