For a man who built his Test career on level-headed batting, Usman Khawaja was not prepared for the emotional toll retirement would take on his batting.
The 39-year-old admitted his batting suffered in his final game as he battled the mental strain of retiring from cricket's biggest stage.
"I was trying to act cool but this whole Test I've struggled to contain my emotions," Khawaja said after Australia wrapped up the final Ashes match of the series on Thursday.
"I found it really hard to concentrate, really hard to get into rhythm."
The first Muslim Australian Test cricketer, as well as the first born in Pakistan to play for the country, was greeted by a grateful SCG crowd for what they hoped would be a match-winning innings.
After applause and a pat on the back from captain Steve Smith, the prolific left-hander jogged over the "Thanks Uzzy" painted on the outfield.
England formed a guard of honour along with the umpires for the No.5 to pass through, and Ben Stokes shook hands with the well-loved Australian as he strode out to try to help get the final 62 runs for victory.
After only managing 17 off 49 balls in the first innings, the parochial home crowd was hoping for a fairytale ending when he got off the mark by flipping Will Jacks for four past fine leg.
But sadly it wasn't to be as Khawaja chopped-on a good-length ball from Josh Tongue on six.
His final walk off a Test cricket field was once again celebrated by all at the SCG as Khawaja waved his bat to all corners of the ground.
His tearful wife Rachel watched from the stands as her husband knelt on the hallowed Sydney turf and kissed the outfield before his final exit.
The left-hander finishes his Test career with 6229 runs at an average of 43.25, placing him 15th in the all-time list of Australian Test run-scorers.
Signing off at the SCG is a fitting venue for the 39-year-old, with the ground being the site of some of his greatest triumphs in a roller-coaster career, and not only because he grew up a stone's throw from the famous ground.
Khawaja made his debut in the harbour city in the final game of the 2010-11 Ashes series, scoring 37 and 21 and showcasing the measured approach to batting that would become his trademark.
After being dropped and recalled several times, a positive COVID test for Travis Head allowed Khawaja to make his final barnstorming return to the team at the pink Test in 2022.
Twin centuries (137 and 101no) batting at No.5 cemented his place in the team for nearly four years, before an unbeaten 195 against South Africa the following year at the SCG.
While his preparation and performance at the start of this series was questioned, illness and good fortune gave him the deserved opportunity to bow out from Test cricket in style.
He may not have hit the fairytale-winning runs, but his thanks to his teammates for completing the victory matched the feelings from his whole career.
"This whole week has just been about 'be grateful'," Khawaja said.
"Whether I get two ducks or two hundreds - just be grateful for what you've been given."
The only other player still left from Khawaja's debut said the veteran's wonderful career would be remembered for a long time.
"He's just grown as a player and it's been great to play alongside him for a long time," Steve Smith said.
"He's certainly going to be missed in that dressing room."
