Usman Khawaja has been named in Australia’s 15-member squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, which begins on January 4 in Sydney.
Steve Smith will lead the side in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, who has been rested to manage his workload and ensure full fitness for upcoming assignments. Cummins missed the first two Tests of the Ashes series after failing to recover in time from a lower-back injury before returning for the third Test, which Australia won. His availability for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be assessed following a scan on his back later this month.
Khawaja began the series as Australia’s long-standing opener in the Perth Test but did not take the field in the second innings due to back spasms. He was left out of the Brisbane Test before making a late return to the XI and batting at No. 4 following Steve Smith’s illness.
In the fourth Test, the 39-year-old again featured in the middle order, scoring 29 off 52 balls in the first innings and a duck in the second. He has so far scored 153 runs from three matches and five innings, averaging 30.60 in the ongoing Ashes series.
Khawaja to address retirement speculation
Khawaja, who has recently been the subject of speculation regarding his Test future, is expected to address the media ahead of the Sydney Test. The fifth Test will be played at his home ground, adding further significance amid discussions around a potential farewell.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan encouraged Khawaja to make any retirement decision on his own terms, rather than being influenced by external pressure.
“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,’” Vaughan said, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Usman has had an incredible career, and not many get the chance to say goodbye on their own terms at their own venue.”
“If he doesn’t do that, he runs the risk of his career ending not on his own terms. I can’t think of a better way to say goodbye than at his home ground in an Ashes series. If Uzzie has the energy and desire to keep going, that’s his call, but leaving in Sydney during an Ashes series sounds pretty special,” Vaughan added.
Australia squad for fifth Ashes Test
Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, and Beau Webster.
Australia will look to secure a 4–1 series victory in the Sydney Test after England claimed the Boxing Day Test.