Usman Khawaja spent the week insisting that his storybook ending had already been written. Asked what a perfect farewell might look like, he shrugged: “I think the fairytale’s already done,” he said. “I don’t think it matters how many runs I score.”
That proved prescient. Set 145 to win the Ashes finale in Sydney, Australia lost their long-time opener for 6, bowled off the inside edge by Josh Tongue. The chase was completed comfortably enough, a five-wicket victory sealing the series 4-1, but Khawaja’s personal curtain call was short.
England formed a guard of honour as he made his way to the middle, Ben Stokes pausing for a handshake in acknowledgement of 88 Tests’ worth of service. On his walk back Khawaja removed helmet and gloves, raised his bat to every corner of the SCG, then dropped to his knees for a Sajdah beside the painted “Thanks Uzzy #419” on the outfield. The 25,847 crowd rose with him.
“As much as I wanted to go out there and score runs and hit the winning runs, I’m just grateful for one last final win and celebrate with my team-mates,” Khawaja told Fox Cricket after the match.
He accepted that the emotion of a farewell week had crept into his game. The left-hander has long been celebrated for a methodical, even detached approach, especially since reclaiming the opener’s slot four years ago, yet he never quite settled in either innings here, scores of 17 and 6 reflecting that internal tussle.
“I’ve got to be honest, It was very tough,” Khawaja said. “I was trying to act cool, but the whole Test match, I found it really hard to control my emotions. I prided myself on being able to control my emotion my whole career. I haven’t given away too much of the opposition or to anyone. I found it really hard to concentrate a lot.
“Even in the first innings, I found it hard to get into rhythm. And even today, my whole career, particularly the last end of the career has been built on process, process, process. It’s just so hard to go out there and concentrate. But look, I’m glad we got the win, got over the line, and it’s something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Being able to finish here at the SCG. Everyone’s been so great. I’m so grateful to have the career I’ve had, and I can just finally relax.”
The numbers underline his place in Australia’s batting lineage. Khawaja departs with 6,266 runs at 48.05 and 16 hundreds; only Bob Simpson, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer average more as Australian openers (minimum 3,000 runs). He is the 16th Australian to breach 6,000 Test runs, a mark that frames a career once interrupted, even doubted, but ultimately enduring.
Stand-in captain and long-time team-mate Steven Smith spoke for the dressing-room. “He’s had a wonderful career,” Smith said. “It’s been great to be alongside him for all of it. I play” — the final words trailed off in the hubbub, though Smith’s sentiment was clear enough.
From here Khawaja, Australia’s first Muslim Test cricketer, says he will savour time with family and perhaps revisit cricket in a different guise later on. For now, the focus is simple: the series has been won, the baggy green is packed away, and the fairytale — imperfect finish and all — really is complete.
