Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
SELECT 👉 Hagley Oval feed
Whateley: No farewell Test for Khawaja this summer
SEN • December 2nd, 2025 3:05 pm
SEN’s Gerard Whateley doesn’t think that Usman Khawaja deserves a Test farewell this summer if his form doesn’t warrant it.
Whateley himself would drop Khawaja for the second Test in Brisbane after Travis Head shone in his opening role in Perth, with the commentator simply believing the 38-year-old’s time is now up.
While it looks likely that Khawaja will play at the Gabba, Whateley thinks that Head should open for the Aussies.
Even if Australia do end up preferring to keep Head at No. 5, Whateley believes that selectors should look forward to future-proofing the team by calling up Matt Renshaw or even young Victorian Campbell Kellaway.
He spoke about the prospect of a farewell summer for Khawaja if the Aussies get to an unassailable lead with Cam Luke on SEN Mornings.
Luke: “I want to raise this. If Australia were able to get on a run, and there's a long way to go, but if they lead 3-0, would you be open to a Usman Khawaja farewell Test in Sydney in what would be a dead rubber?”
Whateley: “I personally wouldn't, because at that stage you need to future-proof, and you're future-proofing through the likes of Head, I would imagine.
“What Australia would ideally like, I think, is Head to open the remainder of the series and be the opener for the next six years, because that's been the gaping hole.
“If that doesn't happen, I wouldn't be going backwards, I'd be going forward, and Renshaw has won the right now to open the batting, and Campbell Kellaway is coming at a rate of knots.
“I said this straight after the Perth Test. Put Khawaja on the back of a ute, and give him a standing ovation for his service to Australian cricket, particularly through a difficult phase where he was not always treated well by selection panels.
“But the need to play him in a farewell Test just makes no sense to me. If we put that in an AFL circumstance for a Grand Final, you’d be laughed out of the room.
“Even though it (farewell Tests) has happened before, not in an Ashes summer for me.”
Khawaja hasn’t passed 50 in any of his last 11 Test innings. The veteran turns 39 during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide.
