The Ashes: Usman Khawaja hits back at ‘hate and negativity’ over critics questioning if his career is over

Usman Khawaja has taken to social media to hit back at what he calls “hate and negativity” directed towards him as his future in Australia’s Test team hangs by a thread.

Khawaja, who turns 39 next week, won’t feature in the Brisbane Test — which began on Thursday — due to a back injury sustained in the first match in Perth, where Travis Head made a century in his place at the top of the order.

The veteran came under fire for playing three rounds of golf before that match and then took aim at the Perth pitch in a bizarre rant during a charity event.

And in the latest of a string of rogue claims from the veteran, Khawaja has now hit back at his perceived critics.

“You think your hate and negativity can bring me down. Not even close,” he wrote on Instagram to his 781,000 followers, alongside a video of him praying.

“I’m the luckiest man in the world. Always. At least that’s how I perceive life.”

There have been calls for Khawaja to retire from Test cricket after being ruled out of the second Test, but stand-in captain Steve Smith left the door open for him to return to the side.

He was also spotted batting in the Gabba nets during the first day of the second Test, in his bid to push for a recall later in the series.

It comes after Khawaja avoided formal punishment for a dummy spit following the first Test, in which he appeared to blame the pitch for his low return of just two runs.

Khawaja labelled the Optus Stadium deck a “piece of s..t” after 19 wickets fell on the opening day, despite receiving an official rating of “very good” by the ICC.

“So, day-one wicket at Perth is a piece of s..t, I’m happy to say that. Has been last year, it was this year,” he said at a lunch for the Usman Khawaja Foundation.

Cricket Australia were reportedly displeased with his comments and have since spoken with Khawaja but opted against any sanctions.

“Usman’s comments were not reflective of how the team viewed the pitch and Perth Stadium personnel are aware of this,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said.

Khawaja has played 85 Tests for Australia and has made 6055 runs and 16 centuries at an average of 43.56 and will be remembered as one of the great openers of the 2020s. He was named the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2023.

But his recent form has been poor, averaging less than 15 since June 2025 with only one century since mid-2023.

WA’s Josh Inglis was recalled for the second Test, with Head retaining the opening spot alongside newcomer Jake Weatherald.