Ashes 2025-26: Australia coach Andrew McDonald opens up on Usman Khawaja’s retirement talks ahead of Sydney Test

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Veteran cricketers nearing the twilight of their careers often find themselves surrounded by speculation, and Australia’s ongoing Ashes campaign is no different. With the fifth and final Ashes 2025-26 Test set to be played at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, discussions around farewells and future plans have inevitably surfaced. Among the names at the center of such chatter is experienced opener Usman Khawaja. Now, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has stepped in to address the growing curiosity, offering clarity on Khawaja’s immediate future and the team’s broader selection thinking.

McDonald has firmly played down any immediate talk surrounding Khawaja’s retirement following the fifth and final Ashes Test against England. Addressing the media ahead of the Sydney clash, McDonald clarified that there have been no internal discussions pointing toward Khawaja calling time on his international career.

The Australian opener is currently spending a short break with his family, but according to McDonald, there has been no indication from the senior batter that Sydney will mark his final appearance in Test whites. The coach stressed that conversations around retirement usually come directly from the player, and in Khawaja’s case, nothing of that sort has been communicated.

McDonald underlined that Khawaja’s place in the side remains secure due to his performances over the course of the year. Despite being 39, the left-hander has continued to deliver at the highest level, ensuring that selection decisions remain performance-based rather than influenced by age or external speculation. From the team management’s perspective, Khawaja has done enough to warrant selection for the Sydney Test, with McDonald confidently stating that the opener is expected to be out in the middle once again at the start of the match.

“He’s with his family at the moment having a couple of days off. We’re always having conversations about where players are at, there’s no indication at my end that he’s calling it in Sydney. But his performance in this calendar year has been good enough to warrant selection, so I’d say he’ll be there marking centre in Sydney,” McDonald said as quoted by cricbuzz.

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One of the key factors easing pressure on any immediate decision is Australia’s upcoming Test schedule. Following the Sydney Test, the national side will not play another Test until August, when Bangladesh tour Australia. That series will be followed by a packed calendar, including a tour of South Africa, a home series against New Zealand, and a challenging tour of India.

In total, Australia are set to play 13 Tests between October and March, but the eight-month gap after the Ashes provides selectors with valuable time. McDonald explained that this extended break allows the selection panel to calmly evaluate future combinations and plan for the next phase without rushing into decisions about senior players.

McDonald made it clear that the decision ultimately lies with Khawaja. If the opener feels the time is right to step away, the team management expects he will approach them directly. Until then, Australia are content to focus on the immediate task at hand rather than speculate about long-term changes.

“I think Uz will come to us if he’s going to retire, there’s no doubt about that. And then after this Test match, we’ve got eight months until the next one, so we’ve got a lot of time as a selection group to make that decision. If there was a series straight off the back of this, then it would be a little bit different. But with the eight-month gap, as a selection panel, we’ve got a lot of time to think about our next Test team should Uz push forward,” added McDonald.

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