NEW DELHI: Former Australian captain Michael Clarke suggested that the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy could present an ideal opportunity for veteran Usman Khawaja to conclude his career at his home ground.
As Australia lead 2-1, they will head to Sydney for the New Year's Test, aiming to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014.
Khawaja, despite his impressive performance as a Test opener following his 2022 return, has struggled to maintain his form this year.
Following remarkable averages of 67.50 and 52.60 in the previous two years, Usman's current statistics show a decline, with an average of 25.93 across nine Tests, accumulating 415 runs in 18 innings, including two half-centuries and a top score of 75.
In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has managed only 141 runs in eight innings at an average of 20.14, with one fifty and a highest score of 57.
"This is Uzzie's home Test match, the SCG. He has been an amazing player, absolutely amazing player. Come back in, score runs overseas, score runs in Australia. He is 38 years of age, I think it could be a great opportunity for Uzzie to announce his retirement, and Sydney to be his last Test," Clarke stated on the Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast.
Clarke acknowledged Khawaja's desire to continue playing but noted that the upcoming Sri Lanka tour presents an opportunity to introduce a new opener to Test cricket.
"I know he would like to keep playing. His form has not been as good as he would like throughout this series. I know we have got a trip to Sri Lanka, and then we have got the Ashes. There is a lot of cricket in between, but I also think that could be a great opportunity for a new player to come in, open the batting, get some Test match cricket under their belt before the first Ashes Test match," Clarke added.
Since his 2022 comeback, Khawaja has accumulated 2,705 runs in 33 Tests and 62 innings, maintaining an average of 49.18, with seven centuries and 13 fifties, including a top score of 195*.
