Usman Khawaja Set to Become Australia’s Oldest Test Cricketer in Two Decades
Australian veteran Usman Khawaja is poised to become the nation’s oldest Test cricketer in over two decades as he gears up for his 18th season of professional cricket. The seasoned Queenslander, who turns 38 in December, will surpass a significant milestone, becoming the oldest Australian Test player since former captain Steve Waugh. Prior to Waugh, the legendary Allan Border was the last Australian to play Test cricket after turning 38.
Khawaja’s journey in cricket has been a tale of resilience. After being dropped from the national squad ahead of the 2019/20 summer, the left-hander believed his international career had come to an end.
Yet, fate intervened during the 2021/22 Ashes series when Khawaja was recalled to the Australian side. Since then, he has been a key player, amassing 2,564 runs at an impressive average of 53.41, including seven centuries. Only England’s Joe Root has outscored Khawaja during this period.
In 2023, Khawaja was named the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, an accolade that underscores his incredible comeback. Reflecting on his return, Khawaja credited the “chilled, relaxed environment” fostered by head coach Andrew McDonald and Test captain Pat Cummins as instrumental in prolonging his career. He admitted he “definitely” would have retired years ago without their influence.
Khawaja highlighted the importance of a personalized approach to training, something that has allowed him to thrive in the later stages of his career. He has often spoken about the stress that comes with playing international cricket and how the traditional training routines, which treated all players the same, left him feeling disillusioned.
Now, with a training program tailored to his needs, Khawaja is performing at his peak, while many of his contemporaries have already retired.
A Record-Breaking Comeback for Usman Khawaja
“Playing cricket for Australia is very stressful,” Khawaja shared with Fox Cricket last month. “There were a lot of boxes that I felt I had to tick, not necessarily making me a better cricketer. We just did it because that’s what we had to do.”
He continued, “When a guy’s playing at 37 compared to 24, they’re both going to need very different things. The way they prepare is going to be different, what they need before a match is very different.”
Khawaja’s ability to adapt to his evolving physical and mental needs has been crucial in extending his playing career. As he prepares for what may be his final chapter in Test cricket, Australia will be relying on his experience and form as they head into another busy summer of international cricket.
