Sydney, Dec 31 (NationPress) Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed his support for Usman Khawaja to conclude his career on his own terms after the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, commencing on January 4.

There is much speculation surrounding whether Khawaja’s 88th Test at the SCG against England will mark his final appearance for Australia. At the age of 39, which he celebrated during the third Ashes match in Adelaide, Khawaja has demonstrated confidence since shifting to the middle order.

However, with selectors feeling the pressure to rejuvenate an aging Australian Test team, the Sydney match is widely anticipated as a potential farewell for Khawaja. “I would advise Usman to take control of his future. It’s essential for him to determine his own path,” Vaughan remarked, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday.

“Usman has had a remarkable career, and few are afforded the opportunity to bid farewell on their own terms at their home venue. If he misses that chance, he risks concluding his career without that personal closure. I can’t envision a more fitting send-off than at his home ground during an Ashes series.

“If Uzzie possesses the drive and determination to continue, I can certainly see that happening, but departing from Sydney in an Ashes series sounds appealing to me. Players like Matt Renshaw, Nathan McSweeney, Campbell Kellaway, and Ollie Peake are the individuals we need to integrate into the Australian side in the coming year,” he added.

Meanwhile, England enters the SCG Test under pressure to prevent a significant defeat, with Vaughan noting that the outcome could influence the future of the Brendon McCullum–Ben Stokes leadership duo. “For the future of this management, particularly, they must secure a solid victory here… and that’s not a two-day match.

“For this management to persist, individuals like Ben and Baz are likely to remain, but they need a successful week for that to be firmly established. There’s a strong desire within the group to retain (McCullum). However, if they face a crushing defeat in Sydney, it may necessitate some honest discussions.

“I believe that constant changes aren’t necessarily beneficial for English cricket. Whatever happens at the conclusion of this tour, they must acknowledge their mistakes. If they remain obstinate, believing they were merely unlucky or that circumstances didn’t unfold as desired… well, we have a challenge ahead.

“The key lies in maturity, and that’s an area where I believe this team can significantly improve, both in how they play and communicate. If they can embrace that, I have no qualms about the management remaining unchanged,” he concluded.