Top 5 memorable knocks of Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Ashes 2025-26 Test in Sydney.

Australian batter Usman Khawaja, 39, is all set to retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Test of Ashes 2025-26 in Sydney, starting from Sunday, January 4. The Sydney Test will be the 88th of his career and so far, he has scored 6206 runs, including 16 centuries in the format.

The southpaw announced his Test retirement in a press conference leading upto the final Test in Sydney. Khawaja attended the press briefing with his family. In the press conference, he spoke about facing racial discrimination throughout his international career and how he was seen differently from his fellow Australian teammates.

Khawaja also spoke about the criticism he coped up from playing golf just three days before the first Ashes Test in Perth, which meant that he could not open the batting and eventually batted at number four in the first innings.

With Khawaja set to call time on his international career and Australia having secured the Ashes, we take a look at his top five knocks in Test cricket through the years. He made his Test debut in 2011 and his international career has spanned for almost 15 years, where he played in 40 ODIs and 9 T20Is for Australia, besides playing 87 Test matches.

Top 5 Test knocks of Usman Khawaja

5. 174 vs New Zealand, Brisbane, 2015

Usman Khawaja made his Test debut in 2011, but it was in 2015 that he scored his first Test ton against New Zealand in Brisbane. Till then, the left-hander had scored just two fifties in his first nine Tests. His first big break came when he was recalled to the side for the home series against New Zealand, and he finally delivered.

By then, former Australian skipper Michael Clarke had already retired and Khawaja got his chance at number three as Steve Smith dropped at number four in the batting order. Against a Kiwi bowling attack, which featured the likes of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, Khawaja scored 174 off 239 balls, hitting 16 fours and two sixes.

He batted for more than six hours and proved his pedigree on the big stage. On the back of Khawaja’s first-innings ton, Australia posted a mammoth total of 556/4 d with the Aussies winning the match by 208 runs.

4. 141 vs Pakistan, Dubai, 2018

Usman Khawaja’s prowess as a good batter in Asian conditions came to the fore in this Test match against Pakistan in 2018 in Dubai. Pakistan posted a mammoth score of 482 in the first innings. Australia, in response, were bowled out for just 202 in the first innings with Khawaja scoring 85 runs, opening the batting.

The Aussies were asked to chase 462 runs in the second innings. The southpaw opened the batting once again and added an 87-run opening stand with Aaron Finch to give his team a good start. The Aussies lost two more wickets without adding a run on the same score.

It was then that Khawaja dig deep, scoring a magnificent 141 off 302, batting for more than 8 eight hours to save the Test match for his side. He was named the Player of the Match for his efforts with the bat in the game.

3. 137 & 101 vs England, Sydney, 2022

Usman Khawja was on his comeback trail in the 2021-22 Ashes series after missing out from the 2019 Ashes series in England. He was returning after two and a half years, with Travis Head missing out from the Test match due to Covid.

Khawaja was a master at work on his return, scoring 137 in the first innings and an unbeaten 101 in the second. His twin tons proved decisive for Australia as they posted a first innings total of 416/8. The Test match ended in a draw with the Aussies losing four wickets quickly in the second innings. The twin tons helped him reclaim his place in the side as well.

2. 141 vs England, Edgbaston, 2023

Usman Khawaja was back to his best for Australia, this time in an Ashes Test match in 2023. England posted 393/8d in the first innings, on the back of a century by Joe Root. Khawaja responded for Australia, scoring 141 off 321 balls for his side and displaying great powers of commitment and concentration.

Australia was set a challenging target of 281 in the second innings with Khawaja standing up tall once again, scoring 65 off 197 balls, batting for more than 300 minutes and holding one end up. Skipper Pat Cummins’ unbeaten 44 off 73 balls sealed a two-wicket win for the Aussies. However, it was Khawaja’s defiance at the top that laid the platform for Australia’s narrow win.

1. 232 vs Sri Lanka, Galle, 2025

Usman Khawaja’s one and only double hundred in his Test career came in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle last year. His knock of 232 off 352 balls helped Australia post a mammoth first innings total of 654/6.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 165 and 247 in their two innings, which meant that Australia won the Test match by an innings and 242 runs. Khawaja won the Man of the Match in the first Test. Australia eventually won the Test series 2-0, displaying a dominating performance with the bat.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.