Ashes 2025-26: Pat Cummins makes special plea to Usman Khawaja ahead of farewell Test in Sydney

as Australia prepare for the final chapter Ashes 2025–26 In the series, emotions run high in the home camp Osman Khawaja is preparing to play his last international match. Before the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Australian captain Pat Cummins He shared a heartfelt message for his long-time teammate with a special request that perfectly captured the mood of Khawaja’s swan song.

Pat Cummins’ message for the outgoing Usman Khawaja

Pat Cummins, who led Australia in both Tests and ODIs, took to social media to congratulate Khawaja on his outstanding international career. Along with his message, Cummins shared a photo featuring the pair and expressed a simple yet powerful wish – that Khawaja score another century at home.

“Congratulations on an incredible career mate. Here’s to another home century,” Cummins wrote, echoing the hopes of fans and teammates alike as Australia prepared for an emotional farewell.

A full-circle moment at the SCG

The Sydney Test holds deep significance for Khawaja. In 2011, he made his Test debut against England during the Ashes series after Ricky Ponting was ruled out due to injury. Almost 15 years later, Khawaja will once again take to the SCG in what he knows will be his last appearance in international cricket.

According to statistics, Sydney was Khawaja’s fortress. He has amassed 875 runs from nine Tests at the venue at an average of 87.50 with four half-centuries. Few Australian batsmen have achieved such an advantage on the historic field, which makes Cummins’ wish far from reality.

Also READ: Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, the SCG Test, which will be his last summer

The comeback that defined Usman’s legacy

One of the defining moments of Khawaja’s career happened in Sydney. During the 2021–22 Ashes series, he returned to the Test side after an absence of more than two years and made a strong announcement by scoring twin centuries at the SCG. That performance revived his international career and laid the foundation for a prolific two-year run at the top level.

Khawaja carried that form into overseas conditions and was instrumental in Australia’s memorable 2-2 Ashes draw in England in 2023. He finished the series as the leading run-scorer with 496 runs, emphasizing his importance at the top of the order.

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