Sydney, Jan 2 (NationPress) Usman Khawaja, the seasoned Australian cricketer, revealed on Friday his decision to retire from international cricket following the fifth Ashes Test against England at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.

In a press conference held just two days before the match, Khawaja shared this significant news with his family present, as the team geared up for their net session, hoping to secure an additional 12 World Test Championship points and conclude the series with a 4-1 victory.

“I’m here to announce today that I will be retiring from all international cricket after the SCG Test match,” Khawaja expressed during the press conference.

“Cricket has blessed me with more than I ever imagined. It has provided me with unforgettable memories, friendships that extend beyond the sport, and invaluable lessons that have shaped my life off the field.

“No career belongs solely to one individual. I owe a great deal to many people. To my parents, I am grateful for your sacrifices that never made it to the highlights reel.”

Khawaja informed his Australian teammates mere moments prior to their training session, just days before the series finale against England.

Over a remarkable 15-year career, Khawaja has accumulated over 8000 international runs across all formats, participating in 87 Tests, 40 ODIs, and 9 T20Is.

He retires as one of Australia's most prolific run-scorers; if he scores 30 more runs in his farewell Test, he will surpass Michael Hussey's tally of 6,235, placing him 14th among Australian men.

Khawaja exits the sport as one of only 18 Australians to have achieved more than 15 Test centuries, concluding with 16 in the longest format. He also leaves with 49 limited-overs caps, including two ODI centuries.

Fittingly, Khawaja bids farewell in his hometown of Sydney, where he made his Test debut against England in 2011. It was at the SCG that he revitalized his career at 35, scoring twin centuries against England in early 2022 when Travis Head was sidelined due to Covid.

This led to a resurgence, with Khawaja hitting seven centuries in his first two years back in the team, culminating in a World Test Championship victory in 2023.

In 2023, Khawaja was honored as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and the Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Year, playing a pivotal role in Australia's World Test Championship success.

He informed coach Andrew McDonald after the fourth Test in Melbourne that he would conclude his career in Sydney.

“It’s been difficult; I’ve wanted to share this with everyone. I just told my teammates. I didn’t expect to feel emotional, but I teared up right away and had to gather myself. I eventually composed myself and expressed my thoughts.

“I never anticipated that I would be the one to cry upon retirement, but I did. It just illustrates how much this means to me. My journey has been unique compared to many cricketers in the Australian cricket team. All that emotion built up,” he reflected.

Khawaja intends to continue playing for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL and has indicated he will remain available for Queensland's Sheffield Shield team.