Can Usman Khawaja extend his Test career at his fortress SCG? Numbers heavily in favour

Usman Khawaja averages 87.50 at SCG [Source: SCG/X.com]

Usman Khawaja has been in the firing line of the critics for a considerable amount of time due to the string of low scores at the top of the order over the last three years, where he has averaged just over 36 at home and scored only one century.

Earlier in the Ashes 2025/26, he was replaced by Travis Head as an opener, citing back issues during the first Test, and Head scored a match-winning century.

With Head performing excellently at the top, Khawaja had to move lower down the order upon returning to full fitness, which further increased doubts over his place in the current Test setup, considering he had recently turned 39. 

Some believe his time at the international level is over, but with his 82 and 40 at Adelaide, he has given his career another lease of life to stay in the team after they retained the Urn.

As confirmed by coach Andrew McDonald, the southpaw is set to continue as a middle-order batter in the fifth Test at his happy hunting ground of Sydney, where he has always done well. 

Here's a brief look at whether he still has it in him to perform at the SCG again and extend his Test career, or if it is time to draw curtains and look at the youngsters in line.

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Usman Khawaja's record at SCG

(Usman Khawaja's record at SCG)

Usman Khawaja vs England at SCG

(Usman Khawaja's record at SCG vs England)

Notably, he has scored 171, 101* and 137 in his last three consecutive innings against the opposition at the venue.

Best batting averages at SCG

(Minimum 10 innings played)

1. Michael Hussey - 94.00 average in 13 innings

2. Usman Khawaja - 87.50 average in 14 innings

3. Marnus Labuschagne - 67.45 average in 12 innings

4. Ricky Ponting - 67.27 average in 27 innings

5. Keith Miller - 65 average in 12 innings

Most centuries at SCG

Usman Khawaja, with 4 centuries, is joint-second in the list of batters with the most centuries at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Only Ricky Ponting (6) has more, while six other legendary names (David Boon, Greg Chappell, Wally Hammond, Matthew Hayden, Steve Smith, David Warner), alongside Khawaja, have four tons each.

Inference

The former New South Wales batter exemplifies consistency at the iconic SCG, and his one fifty and four hundred show excellent conversion rates whenever he gets going. 

Additionally, three consecutive hundreds and the average of 116.75 in 3 Tests show that the batter has specifically done well against the arch-rivals England whenever they have faced off at the venue, which exhibits how seamlessly he adjusts to the conditions in Sydney at the fag-end of the Aussie summer.

His average and centuries put him among the greats of the game, and once he gets in during the New Year's Test, he can bat the opposition out of the game with his marathon innings, which shows with his scores of 195*, 171 and 137, where he has batted over 250 balls in every innings.

Conclusion

Khawaja, 39, has undoubtedly come at the closing stretch of his career, and his best is inarguably behind him. His numbers over the recent few seasons have shown signs of a steady decline, which has been a bit overshadowed due to the retirement of David Warner and another steep decline of Marnus Labuschagne.

While he is set to bat at 5 in the upcoming Test, the conditions will be a bit easier for the left-hand batter, as opposed to what he faces while opening the batting. This means he could still score well in the final Ashes Test to take his team past the finish line.

However, the next time Australia play Test cricket apart from the one-off Test against Afghanistan in July, it will be a big tour of South Africa in September and October when he will push 40. 

So, the sensible solution for both Australia and Khawaja would be to move on from this chapter at the end of the Ashes, as they will also need to groom someone for the future, especially the potential World Test Championship Final 2027, when he will be well over 40.

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