Australia head coach and selector Andrew McDonald has confirmed that Usman Khawaja will play in the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, putting to rest media speculation that it could be the veteran batsman’s final international appearance.
At 39, Khawaja is the oldest member of an ageing squad, and his spot in the lineup has come under scrutiny following a batting demotion. With Travis Head promoted to the opening position, Khawaja has batted at number four in the third Test in Adelaide and at number five in the fourth Test in Melbourne.
Despite reports suggesting the Sydney Test could mark the end of Khawaja’s international career, McDonald emphasized that no conversations about retirement have taken place. “There’s no indication at my end that he’s calling it in Sydney,” McDonald told reporters in Melbourne. “But his performance in this calendar year has been good enough to warrant selection, so I’d say he’ll be there marking centre in Sydney.”
Khawaja, who returned home to Queensland for a family break ahead of the Sydney Test starting January 4, has not publicly commented on his future. The 87-Test veteran faced back spasms during the first Ashes Test in Perth, causing him to miss the second Test in Brisbane.
While his Ashes form has been mixed—averaging just over 30 across three matches, with a notable 82 at Adelaide helping Australia secure the series early—he struggled in Melbourne, scoring 29 and 0 in the two innings of the fourth Test. Critics highlighted his soft dismissal in the second innings, but overall, Khawaja’s numbers compare favorably with several other Australian batsmen this series, including Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, and all-rounder Cameron Green.
