Former Australia captain Michael Clarke hopes opener Usman Khawaja can quit after this Test in Sydney.
The 38-year-old southpaw has looked terrible this season. He has one fifty plus innings thrown.
“This is Uzzie’s home Test match, the SCG,” Clarke told Beyond 23 podcast.
“He has been a phenomenal player, phenomenal. Go back in, score runs overseas, score runs here in Australia. He is 38 years old so I think this could be a really good game for Uzzie to say he is going to retire and Sydney will be his last Test.
‘I know he would like to keep playing. The man’s body has been worse than he wanted it to be this series. ‘I’m also inclined to believe that could be a fantastic test match for a young cricketer to step in, put on the bat, do some Test match cricket before the first Ashes Test match.
Sam Konstas could be an Aussie option long term in the top order after a glittering 50-ball fifty at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the fourth Test. Whereas Nathan McSweeney who started all three Tests of the series was more than decent enough to make him a Test batsman too.
Several other former captains had followed Michael Clarke’s lead and even conceded selectors would have to take some players to retirement.
“This side, it’s not going to have to recoup in the next two or three years and selectors have to be ruthless sometimes I think because players are not going to retire I think right now so selectors have to be a bit more ruthless,” Taylor told 2GB radio on Thursday.