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Watch- Usman Khawaja makes his last walk political, performs 'Sajda' after last innings 

Soumyajit Dutta

Usman Khawaja performs sajda at the SCG [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/X]Usman Khawaja performs sajda at the SCG [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/X]

Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja retired from Test cricket on January 8, 2026, with his final innings coming at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the venue where his Test journey began.

As Usman Khawaja walked back to the pavilion after being dismissed by England bowler Josh Tongue, he performed a sajda, expressing gratitude and thankfulness for what the iconic ground and its supporters had given him over the years.

The moment came during the fifth and final Test of the Ashes 2025–26 series between Australia and England, which marked Khawaja’s last appearance in Test whites for Australia. 

While his farewell innings was underwhelming, as he departed for just six runs, his gesture of appreciation towards the crowd and the stadium was warmly acknowledged by everyone present at the SCG.

Usman Khawaja acknowledges the crowd and the SCG with Muslim tradition

Chasing England’s target in Australia’s second innings, Khawaja walked in to bat at No. 5 but looked unsettled from the outset. In the 23rd over, Josh Tongue bowled him for six runs off seven deliveries. His brief stay at the crease included a single boundary. 

As the Pakistan-born's innings came to an end, the entire SCG rose to its feet and applauded him, offering a standing ovation for his long and distinguished Test career. Khawaja raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd before taking a moment to get down on his knees and kiss the ground while performing sajda.

Sajda is an Islamic act of prayer that signifies submission, humility, and gratitude to Allah. For those unaware, Usman Khawaja is a Muslim-born Australian cricketer who has consistently spoken out against racism and religious discrimination in Australian cricket. 

He reiterated those values even in his farewell press release. His act of sajda was both a tribute to his faith and a heartfelt acknowledgement of the ground where he made his Test debut in the 2011 Ashes series against England.

Khawaja's Test run ends with Ashes 2025-26

In Test cricket, Khawaja finished with 6,229 runs from 159 innings at an average of 42.95. His record includes 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries in the format. 

However, the Ashes 2025–26 series proved challenging for the veteran batter, as he struggled with persistent back issues. He managed only 176 runs across seven innings in four Tests, averaging 25.14, with just one fifty-plus score during the tour.