Usman Khawaja is set to begin his red-ball campaign ahead of the Ashes with no concern over when “the end” of his Test career will come.
The 38-year-old will play for Queensland in the opening Sheffield Shield round against Tasmania at Allan Border Field on Saturday seeking runs, but is regarded as a lock to play in the first Test against England in Perth that starts on November 21.
Khawaja, who has scored more Test runs (3166 at 47.25) than any other Australian batsman beyond the age of 35, spoke to AAP about why he has rejected the concept of a farewell tour or predicting his Test future.
“That is the only reason, I can confidently say, I have performed the way I have since I have come back into the team,” he said.
“It is due to my perspective, my beliefs and the understanding everything is meant to be the way it is meant to be.”
The last Ashes series in Australia in 2021-22 was a sliding-doors moment.
Khawaja was recalled after a two and a half year absence from the Test team and struck 137 and 101 not out in the fourth Test in Sydney. From that moment he has been a regular at the top of the order.
“Before I came back into the team I had lost everything in terms of cricket,” Khawaja said.
“I had lost my (Cricket) Australia contract. I wasn’t playing one-day cricket, T20 cricket or Test cricket for Australia … but life was pretty good, so I know that when cricket is over life will still be good.
“I only had one daughter then, Aisha. I had a lot of fun with her and was doing other stuff. I am a simple man in many respects. I like simple things, so when I came back into the team that summer for Australia, my perspective on life was totally different.”
Khawaja said his personal belief system and Islamic faith meant he was at peace with the concept of “the end”, both in cricket and life.
“I know that, just like cricket, we are not going to live forever,” he said.
“I could literally walk out of this room and die this afternoon. I could die tomorrow. I have a really close relationship with death, even though that seems weird to people.
“I think it is a part of Islam in general, knowing that everything that has a beginning also has an end. At one stage we are all going to go. That is very important to me and has always kept me very level-headed, particularly later on in life as I have matured.”
If Khawaja makes it to the Third Test in Adelaide he will be 39. The late Bob Simpson was the last Test batsman to play for Australia beyond the age of 39 after he came out of retirement during World Series Cricket in 1977 as a 41-year-old..
“If you told me four years ago I’d be playing cricket for Australia at the age of 38, and potentially 39 this December, I would have laughed at you,” Khawaja grinned.
“I feel blessed. I was (ICC) world Test player of the year (in 2023). When you look at some of the names that have won it like (Kumar) Sangakkara, (Ricky) Ponting, (Jacques) Kallis … the greats of the game … to have achieved that at 36 was special.
“I’ve scored a lot of runs and got to play a lot of cricket at the back-end of my career that I never thought I would.”
The opening round of the Shield will showcase competition for batting spots at the top of the order to partner Khawaja in the opening Ashes Test, with NSW’s Sam Konstas seeking runs against Western Australia in Perth.
Victoria opener Marcus Harris is also eyeing a recall, and a big score will help his cause when his side play South Australia in Adelaide.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/khawaja-at-peace-with-the-end-as-ashes-race-begins-c-20220760
