IND vs AUS: Michael Clarke Feels Sydney Test Presents 'Great Opportunity' For Usman Khawaja to Retire at Home

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke believes the Sydney Test against India could be a 'great opportunity' for veteran batter Usman Khawaja to announce his retirement in front of his home crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

His longtime opening partner David Warner hung up his boots earlier this year, and now although there is nothing concrete on Khawaja calling time on his career, the former skipper feels the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a perfect chance to play the last game at his home venue.

Khawaja, who had great returns as a Test opener since his recall in 2022, has not been at his best this year, averaging just 25.93 in 2024 after averaging 67.50 and 52.60 during the last two calendar years.

In nine Tests, the left-handed batter has scored just 415 runs in 18 innings, with two half-centuries and best score of 75. In four Tests during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has scored just 141 runs in eight innings at an average of 20.14, with one half-century and best score of 57.

Clarke hailed Khawaja's contributions at home and abroad, but felt with age catching up, the seasoned opener has a great opportunity to bow out of international cricket at the SCG.

"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 said on the Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast.

Clarke further acknowledged that Khawaja would like to keep playing, but the Sri Lanka tour next year presents a great chance for a new opener to come into the Australian side and start his Test career.

"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.

After Warner retired, the Aussies have promoted Steve Smith to the top of the order and failed. Australia have recently tried Nathan McSweeney in the postion before turning to teenager Sam Konstas, who impressed with a fifty on his debut.

Coming back to Khawaja, the veteran has scored 2705 runs in 33 Tests and 62 innings, averaging 49.18, with seven centuries and 13 fifties and best score of 195* since his comeback to the side in 2022. Overall, the southpaw has amassed 5592 runs in 139 innings, at an average of 44.38 with 15 hundreds and 27 fifties to his name.

With the series 2-1 in favour of the home side, Pat Cummins and Co will be heading for the New Year's Test at Sydney to secure the series and win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014.