Sydney, Jan 8 (NationPress) Australia's victory by five wickets in the concluding Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday held profound significance for Usman Khawaja, who stepped off the field for the final time in his career following his retirement announcement a couple of days prior to the match.

On Day 5 of the SCG Test, as Khawaja took the field, his teammates refrained from entering first, allowing him to lead them onto the pitch. Subsequently, the England team formed a guard of honour near the pitch as he walked out to bat for the last time in a modest chase of 160 runs.

After Australia's victory, Khawaja shared his appreciation for concluding his career with a win and for the chance to celebrate alongside his teammates.

"This means everything. A lot of hard work has gone into it over a long time. It's fascinating how remarkable the game of cricket is. I mentioned to Rach this morning to just enjoy it. The only thing I wished for was to finish with a win. I would have loved to score runs and hit the winning runs, but I'm simply thankful for one last victory and the celebration with my teammates," he expressed.

In his final match, Khawaja's scores were less than stellar, recording 17 and 6 in two innings while batting in the middle order. The 39-year-old admitted that focusing was challenging, as he was overwhelmed with emotions.

Reflecting on his emotional control, Khawaja noted, "It was incredibly difficult. I tried to remain composed, but during such an intense Test match, I struggled to manage my emotions.”

“I have always taken pride in being able to keep my emotions in check throughout my career, not giving too much away to opponents or anyone else. However, I found it hard to concentrate. Even in the first innings, I struggled to find my rhythm. My entire career, especially towards the end, has revolved around process, process, process.

"It's challenging to go out there and maintain focus. Nevertheless, I'm grateful we secured the win and crossed the line. It’s something I will treasure for the rest of my life, being able to conclude my career here at the SCG,” he added.

Australia claimed the Ashes series 4-1, securing the urn after triumphing in the final match at the SCG, and Khawaja retired from international cricket after a remarkable 15-year journey, in the same city where he grew up and made his first-class and Test debuts.