Australia’s Usman Khawaja plays a shot during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke wants opener Usman Khawaja to retire after this Test in Sydney.
The 38-year-old southpaw has been awfully out of the form in this series. He has managed just one fifty plus total in eight innings.
“This is Uzzie’s home Test match, the SCG,” Clarke said on the Beyond 23 podcast.
“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.
“I know he would like to keep playing. His form has not been as good as he would like throughout this series. 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.”
Sam Konstas looks like being a long-term option for Australia at the top of the order after he scored a sparkling half-century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the fourth Test. Whereas, Nathan McSweeney who played the first three Test of the series had showed enough talent to be considered a future Test batter too.
Former captain Mark Taylor had also echoed Clarke’s sentiment and admitted selectors might have to manage some players into retirement.
“There’s no doubt this side isn’t going to need to recoup over the next two or three years and selectors are going to have to be tough at times because I think players are less likely to retire these days, so therefore selectors have to be a little more ruthless,” Taylor told 2GB radio on Thursday.
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