Cricket has a funny way of coming full circle. It was right here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) back in 2011 that a young, stylish left-hander named Usman Khawaja first walked out to represent Australia. Today, as he walks off that same turf for the final time, the roar from the crowd tells you everything you need to know: we haven't just lost an opening batter; we’ve witnessed the end of an era of pure class.

Watching "Uzzie" bat was always like watching a masterclass in patience. In an age of "Bazball" and frantic T20 power-hitting, Khawaja remained a beautiful outlier. He didn’t need to muscle the ball; he caressed it. Whether it was that signature flick off the pads or the way he danced down the track to spinners, he made the hardest job in Test cricket—opening the batting—look like a Sunday morning stroll in the park.

But his story is about more than just runs. It’s about the "Khawaja Comeback." Remember 2022? Many thought his international career was over. Instead, he returned with a hunger we hadn't seen before, churning out centuries from Rawalpindi to Birmingham. He became the heart of the Aussie top order, proving that age is just a number if your technique is tightened and your mind is clear.

As he hugged his teammates under the setting Sydney sun today, there wasn't a dry eye in the stadium. He leaves the game with thousands of runs and a trophy cabinet full of accolades, but more importantly, he leaves as a role model for every kid in the suburbs who dreams of wearing the Baggy Green.

Thanks for the memories, Uzzie. The crease won't feel the same without you.