#usman-khawaja

#usman-khawaja

Usman Khawaja leads Australia on to the field. After 15 years at the top, he finishes up as a Test cricketer today. A wonderful, trailblazing career and, full transparency, one of my childhood heroes. Khawaja heads out onto the SCG for the final time in a baggy green. Photograph: Jason McCawley/CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images Share Updated at 18.12 EST Is there a way to wipe the second half of this piece from the interweb?

More than half an hour into the press conference, with his retirement from Test cricket confirmed, Usman Khawaja was asked about the role of opening the batting and its relevance in the modern game. He answered with ease, detailing the specific mental challenges of facing the new ball. Minutes later, he was asked how Australia can unite after last month's terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. Again, there was little hesitation before the lengthy reply.

Amusingly, there was a brief panic in the afternoon when it was announced that Steve Smith, like Khawaja a day earlier, was bringing forward his press conference. Was this the possible signposting of a second retirement by a Sydneysider? News soon followed that this was a case of the 36-year-old looking to keep his training light. Phew. One is plenty, thank you very much. As it stands, Khawaja is the only player known to be joining those who have signed off at the SCG