"Perfect time for him to finish on his own terms" - Michael Clarke calls for Australian batter to retire after BGT 2024-25 5th Test in Sydney

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has opined that the upcoming fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 is the ideal opportunity for Usman Khawaja to announce his international retirement. The red-ball veteran recently turned 38 and has been under pressure following a relatively mediocre series against India.

Khawaja was the steady figure at the top of the order while Australia looked for David Warner's replacement. The likes of Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, and Sam Konstas have all opened alongside the left-handed batter this year, with a long-term solution yet to be found.

Khawaja has struggled against Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series. He has recorded 141 runs in eight innings at an average of 20.14 and a strike rate of 43.79.

Michael Clarke believes if Khawaja steps away at the end of the ongoing series, it will give Australia ample time to groom a new opening batter for the 2025-26 Ashes series at home.

"This is Uzzie's home Test match, the SCG. He has been an amazing player, absolute amazing player. Come back in, score runs overseas, score runs in Australia. He's 38 years of age, I think it could be a great opportunity for Uzzie to announce his retirement, and Sydney be his last Test," Clarke said on Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast's Instagram.

"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've got a trip to Sri Lanka, and then we've got the Ashes. There's 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 continued.

Clarke maintained that Khawaja has earned the right to make his own decisions instead of being forced or phased out.

"Uzzie's earned the right to do his own thing. But, I just thought maybe this could be the perfect time for him to finish on his own terms. In front of family and friends, Sydney Test match, what an awesome opportunity," he concluded.

Khawaja's former opening partner David Warner had opted the route that Clarke suggested. The left-handed batter chose to retire in front of his family at his home ground (also SCG) at the end of Australia's home series against Pakistan in the 2023-24 home season.

"I'd like to play another Ashes" - Australia opening batter Usman Khawaja

Despite pressure mounting on the veteran, he has maintained that he would like to play the home Ashes series before retiring. He played a pivotal role in Australia winning the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC), standing out with his valuable contributions in the subcontinent.

"I think everything's got an end, there's an expiry date on everything, and when you hold on too tight you stop focusing on the things that matter. I'm still out there, I'm trying to score as many runs as I can, trying to put my team in the best positions to win games, and I don't want to be thinking, 'I want to play for Australia for this many games, that many games," Khawaja had said in an interview with the Wide World of Sports in November 2024 (via nine.com.au).

"I don't really think about that and I don't know when it's going to be. It could be in one game's time, it could be in three years' time. I don't want to look too far ahead but I'd like to play another Ashes," he added.

Khawaja showed glimpses of his best self on a good batting track at the MCG during the recently concluded Boxing Day Test. He scored a fifty in the first innings (57), with Sam Konstas at the other end taking care of the run flow.