Usman Khawaja said on Friday (January 2) that he hopes his long test career, which will end with his retirement after the fifth Ashes match, inspires young players who are “different” to see that playing cricket for Australia is possible.

The top-order batsman, who turned 39 last month, announced that he will retire from international cricket after his 88th test, which begins at Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday (January 4).

Khawaja made his test debut at the same ground during the final match of the 2010-11 Ashes series and has since scored 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39, including 16 centuries.

Beyond his runs, Khawaja became a symbol of diversity in Australian cricket. Born in Pakistan and raised in Sydney from the age of five, he represented a pathway for players from different backgrounds.

Khawaja also reflected on his experiences with the media, saying that the coverage he received after a back injury in Perth showed he was still treated differently compared to other players because of his heritage.

-Production: James Redmayne/Reuters