Usman Khawaja included as Australia name squad for Sydney Test:Batter to address media amid retirement talks, match starts on 4 Jan

Australia have announced their squad for the fifth and final Test of Ashes 2025-26, on 1 January. Veteran left-handed batter Usman Khawaja has been picked in the 15-member squad amid ongoing speculations on his retirement. The Sydney Test is set to start on 4 January at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Australia have already won the Ashes 3-1, but England enter this match after beating the Aussies within two days in the Boxing Day Test. Also read: Mitchell Marsh to lead Australia in T20 World Cup 2026:AUS announce 15-member squad for marquee event; Cummins-Hazlewood on comeback trails
Usman Khawaja to address media amid retirement rumours Speculations have been growing over Khawaja’s future in Test cricket amid his poor form in the longest format. The left-handed opener has managed to score just 153 runs in three matches in the ongoing Ashes, with a highest score of 82, which came in Adelaide. Khawaja, as has been reported widely, is set to hold a press conference on Friday, 3 January, as talks over his retirement gain ground. The 39-year-old had suffered a back injury in the Perth Test and did not come out to bat in the second innings. He went on to miss the second Test and Brisbane and returned to the playing XI for the Adelaide Test, batting at number four with Steve Smith suffering from illness. He batted in the middle-order once again in the Boxing Day Test where he had scores of 29 and 0 in both innings. Also read: Bumrah remains on top in Test rankings, Starc second:Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli continue to dominate ICC ODI rankings
Michael Vaughan urges Usman Khawaja to retire on his own terms Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan recently asked Khawaja to retire on his own terms, with the fifth and final Ashes 2025-26 Test being played at his home ground in Sydney. “I would say to Usman, ‘Don’t let them decide. You decide your destiny. When someone has been playing for so long, we’ve just got to let them decide. Usman has had an incredible career and not many get the chance to say goodbye on their own terms at their own venue,” said Vaughan, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald. Steve Smith to captain Australia Steve Smith will continue to captain Australia in the fifth and last Test of Ashes 2025-26, with Pat Cummins being rested in a bid to keep him fresh for the T20 World Cup next month. Right-arm spinner Todd Murphy has been picked in the 15-member team and it will be interesting to see if he makes it to the playing XI. Australia will look to bounce back after being beaten by England within two days in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. England, on the contrary, will look to keep that winning momentum going and end what has been a disappointing Ashes on a high.