Latest Usman Khawaja News & Updates

Melbourne, Jan 4 (IANS) Australia leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson has delivered a blunt assessment of spinners not being fielded in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, saying this decision made by the team think-tank ‘sucks’. At a venue historically renowned for favoring slow bowlers, Australia fielded an all-pace attack, and overlooked a spin bowling option for the third time in the ongoing Ashes. “It sucks, mate. I won’t be careful, it sucks. Being a spin bowler I am obviou…

Sydney, Jan 4 (IANS) Retiring Australian batter Usman Khawaja has paid tribute to his parents, crediting the sacrifices they made during his childhood as he reflected on a career that spanned 88 Test matches.During a press conference on Friday, Khawaja announced his decision to retire from international cricket and gave a shout-out to his parents, Tariq and Fozia and jokingly asked his father, “88 Test matches, Dad, is that enough?”On Sunday, Khawaja explained the remark before the fifth Tes…

Sydney, Jan 3 (IANS) Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith is ready to relinquish captaincy to a younger candidate in the absence of captain Pat Cummins if that is what the selectors wish to do. With Usman Khawaja hanging up his cricket boots on Sunday after the Sydney Test, Nathan Lyon has already been ruled out due to injury. Smith will now be the oldest player in the Australian XI, side by side with Scott Boland. When asked about possibly being involved in the 2027 Ashes series in England, …

London, Jan 2 (IANS) Former England spinner Monty Panesar has reacted to Usman Khawaja’s remarks on racism in Australian cricket by stating that he never faced racial discrimination during his international career and always felt strongly supported by his teammates and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Khawaja, who announced that he will retire from international cricket after the final Sydney Ashes Test, has hit out at racial stereotypes in Australian cricket, claiming he has been treated …

Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) Australia skipper Pat Cummins and former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan congratulated Usman Khawaja after the veteran Australian batter announced that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Ashes Test, scheduled from January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The 39-year-old opener will retire as one of Australia’s most prolific run-scorers; 30 more in his farewell Test will see him pass Michael Hussey’s tally of 6,235 into 14th among Australian men.C…

Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) Retiring veteran batter Usman Khawaja has hit out at racial stereotypes in Australian cricket, claiming he has been treated differently across his career because of his race and religion.Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan and was the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia, in a 50-minute press conference at the SCG while announcing his international retirement, declared he wanted to make life easier for “the next Usman Khawaja”.The veteran batter said he is still…

Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja announced on Friday that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground.Khawaja called a press conference and made the announcement with his family by his side two days out from the match, ahead of the team’s net session with the Aussies aiming to claim another 12 World Test Championship points and finish the series as 4-1 victors.“I’m here to announce today that I w…

Sydney, Jan 1 (IANS) Australia have named an unchanged squad from the Boxing Day Test for the upcoming final Test of the Ashes series, though conditions at the SCG could still prompt changes to the final XI. The match is set to begin on January 4 here at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon as the Australian team assembled in Sydney for their first training session following last week’s four-wicket defeat to England. The Melbourne Test ended inside two day…

New Delhi, Jan 1 (IANS) Amid speculations around his Test future, Australian batter Usman Khawaja will address the media at the press conference ahead of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). According to a report from The Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja will address the press conference on Friday morning to discuss rumours regarding his Test future. While the 39-year-old is a frontrunner to make it to Australia’s playing XI for the final game, his red-ball career beyond the …

Sydney, Dec 31 (IANS) Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed Usman Khawaja to retire on his own terms after playing the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which starts on January 4.Speculation has been rife about whether Khawaja’s 88th Test at the SCG against England will be his final game for Australia. Khawaja, who turned 39 during the third Ashes match in Adelaide, has looked assured since moving to the middle order.But with selectors under pressure to refresh an agei…