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Usman Khawaja

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Nathan McSweeney takes a quick single.

As Green heads to World Cup, an axed contender will push for his Test place

Usman Khawaja’s retirement is expected to give Cameron Green more time. But Nathan McSweeney has four games to muscle in.

  • Nick Wright

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Steve Smith

‘Everyone stood up’: Smith says Australia owned big moments in 4-1 series victory

Captain Steve Smith says Australia’s comprehensive Ashes triumph was due to simply playing “really good cricket” after his side held its nerve to win the fifth Test at the SCG.

  • Tom Decent
England captain Ben Stokes (centre) congratulates Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja after the final day of the 2025-26 Ashes series.

England never recovered from Perth, and neither did this Ashes series

It’s been a dizzying series in many ways, comprising some moments of champagne cricket but many more of poor stuff that spoke to England’s ramshackle preparation for the task and Australia’s numerous vulnerabilities.

  • Daniel Brettig
Steve Smith after reaching 100 at the SCG.

Ruthless Smith shuts the door on England, and retirement

Steve Smith had plenty of reasons to want to shut the door on England at the SCG. A 3-2 Ashes series result would be a travesty to rank with some of the wild claims made about this team.

  • Daniel Brettig
Jake Weatherald hits the deck.

Head-scratcher: Should Australia persist with Jake Weatherald?

Travis Head rates him and the opening stands have been solid. But Jake Weatherald has left the door open for Australia’s selectors to look elsewhere.

  • Daniel Brettig
Todd Murphy in action at training.

In a spin: Pitch mysteries leave Australia considering 140-year SCG first

Steve Smith was left lamenting the shift at his home ground as a “shame” as Australia leave a call on their final XI until Sunday’s toss.

  • Dan Walsh
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Travis Head

Why the ‘toughest job in cricket’ will be even harder for Khawaja’s successors

With legacy-defining tours against India and England on the horizon, the questions over Australia’s top order take on fresh urgency.

  • Dan Walsh
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Usman Khawaja played a fine innings on his own terms

Following months of speculation about his future, Australia’s great opening batsman pulls up stumps.

  • The Herald's View
Usman Khawaja with his wife, Rachel, and their daughters Aisha and Ayla.

Khawaja was dropped eight times. He explains how he kept coming back

In a wide-ranging interview, Usman Khawaja also revealed coach Andrew McDonald wanted him to keep going until the 2027 tour of India.

  • Daniel Brettig
Khawaja arrives at his retirement press conference.

‘Look at me now:’ Usman Khawaja takes parting shot at ‘racial stereotyping’ as he announces retirement

Khawaja, who will retire after the Sydney Test, went out swinging.

  • Daniel Brettig