Steve Smith Responds to Usman Khawaja's Retirement Remarks Amid Criticism
Steve Smith Addresses Khawaja's Retirement and Criticism
In Sydney, Australian cricketer Steve Smith opted not to delve into Usman Khawaja's comments made during his retirement press conference, where Khawaja expressed feeling different in various ways. However, Smith did address the backlash regarding Khawaja's preparation for the initial Test in Perth, where he faced back spasms, as reported by a sports news outlet.
Khawaja has announced that he will retire from international cricket following the fifth Ashes Test against England, which is set to commence on Sunday.
Smith remarked, “I’m not going to speculate on Usman Khawaja’s thoughts. He has had an impressive career.” He added, “Regarding his preparation, he has consistently trained hard. The criticism surrounding his injury after playing golf the day before the match was unwarranted. He has been doing this for 15 years and has had a successful career. It’s unfair to highlight one instance where he got injured after preparing the same way.”
As Khawaja approaches his final Test, he boasts a record of 87 matches and 6206 runs, which includes 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries, with an average of 43.39 across 157 innings.
During an emotional 50-minute press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Khawaja confirmed his retirement from international cricket.
He shared his feelings about the criticism he received for playing golf three days prior to the Ashes opener in Perth, where he suffered from back spasms, preventing him from batting in the second innings.
Khawaja, who made history as the first Muslim to represent Australia in Test cricket, reflected on the criticism he has faced throughout his career.
“I’ve always felt somewhat different, even now. As a cricketer of color, I believe the Australian cricket team is our pride and joy. However, I have often felt different in many respects, particularly in how I’ve been treated. I experienced back spasms, which were beyond my control. Yet, the media and former players targeted me relentlessly, not just for two days but for about five days straight, and it wasn’t even about my performance,” Khawaja stated.
“The focus was on something very personal—my preparation. The way I was criticized for my preparation felt quite personal, with accusations of not being committed to the team, being selfish for playing golf, and not training hard enough. These are the same racial stereotypes I’ve encountered throughout my life. I had hoped that the media and former players had moved beyond this, but it seems we still have a long way to go, as I’ve never seen anyone treated this way in the Australian cricket team before,” he added.
With Australia already having secured the series, they aim to clinch the fifth Test to finish with a 4-1 victory, while England seeks to replicate their success from the fourth Test.