Usman Khawaja Discusses Retirement Plans Ahead of World Test Championship Final

Khawaja's Retirement Insights

Usman Khawaja, the experienced opener from Australia, recently shared his thoughts on retirement, stating that he intends to exit the game 'gracefully' when the time comes. This comes as he prepares for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on Wednesday.

At 38 years old, Khawaja is nearing the end of a remarkable career. Following the retirement of his long-time teammate David Warner, he has taken on the responsibility of providing stability at the top of the batting order.

Khawaja's Performance and Mindset

Khawaja's importance to the Australian team is highlighted by his impressive tally of 1,422 runs in the current WTC cycle, making him the highest run-scorer for Australia in this series before the match at Lord's. Despite concerns regarding his age, he believes he is performing at his peak and continues to relish playing cricket.

"For me, age doesn't matter. As long as I'm enjoying the game, training hard, scoring runs, and contributing to the team, I still have the drive. I don't see things differently, but I'm open to whatever comes next," Khawaja remarked to ICC Digital at Lord's.

"I'm truly enjoying my cricket right now. Everything that starts has an end. I can't predict when that will be, but my focus is on living in the moment, taking it one Test match and series at a time. When it's time to retire, I will do so gracefully, whenever that may be," he added.

Opening Partner Uncertainty

As Khawaja gears up to open for Australia, there remains uncertainty about who will join him. Since Warner's retirement in January last year, various players including Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Travis Head, and Sam Konstas have been tested as potential partners.

For the crucial final, there are speculations that Marnus Labuschagne might be promoted from number three to open the innings. Konstas, who showcased his skills against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is also training with the squad in London and is a contender to partner Khawaja.

Despite the ongoing discussions regarding the opening pair, Khawaja is not concerned about the uncertainty and prefers to focus on his own game rather than the identity of his opening partner.

"Not really, to be honest. Opening is incredibly challenging. I'm focused on how the ball will be bowled to me and what I need to do. My partner is likely thinking the same. We need to collaborate on how to tackle the opposition's attack," Khawaja explained when asked if the ambiguity about his partner affects his mindset.

"It doesn't significantly alter my game. If anything, it has been a bit quieter without Davey. My priority is to contribute to my team and work effectively with my partner while on the field," he concluded.