Curtain call nears for Khawaja

Triumphant Australia will bid farewell to Usman Khawaja as England look to recover another few scraps of pride when the Ashes series comes to a conclusion with the fifth Test in Sydney from tomorrow.

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Australia's Usman Khawaja leaves a media conference at the SCG in Sydney.AFP

(AFP)

Australia’s 3-1 series lead has already ensured that they will retain the urn until they next travel to England, but Khawaja’s announcement yesterday was a reminder that they might have a very different team by 2027.

The Pakistan-born lefthander said yeterday that the Sydney Test would be his international swansong — on the same ground and against the same opponents as his Test debut in early 2011.

“I'm very happy that I get to leave on my own terms at the SCG,” the 39-year-old batsman said at a news conference at the ground. “It’s nostalgic. It’s special.”