<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ashes-cricket-australia-boss-todd-greenberg-slams-archaic-bad-light-rules-23610758" rel="nofollow">Australia</a> secured a victory by five wickets in the fifth and final Test match of the Ashes series against England. With this, the hosts also sealed the series by 4-1.
Usman Khawaja, who made his final appearance for the side, said that he found it difficult to control his emotions while playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Speaking about his retirement, the veteran batsman said, "It means a lot. So much has gone into it. The only thing I wanted was a win, as much as I wanted to hit the winning runs. The whole Test match, I found it hard to control my emotions. I found it hard to concentrate in the middle. I'm grateful I've had the career I've had. I have full gratitude. It definitely got a bit too tight. You never count your chickens. We got the job done though".
The 39-year-old veteran scored 6206 runs in 87 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/eng-vs-aus-5th-test-jacob-bethell-late-than-never-23611075" rel="nofollow">Test</a> matches and 157 innings at an average of 43.39. Khawaja notched up 16 hundreds and 28 half-centuries in the longest format.
In ODIs, the left-handed batter made 1554 runs in 40 matches and 39 innings at an average of 42, including two centuries and 12 fifties. In T20Is, the veteran scored 241 runs in nine outings with the help of one half-century.
<h2>Mitchell Starc's record</h2>
On the other hand, Australia's lead pacer <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/photo/eng-vs-aus-3rd-test-mitchell-starc-becomes-first-player-to-complete-10-fifty-plus-scores-batting-at-number-nine-or-below-in-format-108746" rel="nofollow">Mitchell Starc</a> joined an elite list of players who have picked 30 or more wickets in the Ashes this century. The pacer claimed five wickets across both innings in Sydney.
With this, he completed a tally of 31 wickets in 10 innings of the just-concluded Ashes series. He had an average of 19.93 and two five-wicket hauls. Starc has now joined the elite list of players who have picked up 30 or more wickets in an Ashes series this century.
The 35-year-old pacer has joined the likes of Shane Warne (40 wickets in 2005 series), <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2025-coming-in-as-an-impact-sub-is-a-world-away-from-an-ashes-series-johnson-on-mitchell-marsh-23512658" rel="nofollow">Mitchell Johnson</a> (37 wickets in 2013-14), Glenn McGrath (32 wickets in 2001), and Warne (31 wickets in 2001), who picked 30 or more wickets in an Ashes series this century.
(With ANI Inputs)

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