Every cricketer eventually has to hang up their boots, and it seems like the moment has arrived for Australia’s Usman Khawaja to bid farewell to his remarkable Test career. He’s been a fantastic asset for the Australian team, but it’s clear that he’s not the same player anymore. With two new openers stepping up, his position has become a bit redundant. Khawaja struggled in the first Test match against England in Perth, and here are three compelling reasons why Australia should make the tough decision to drop him from the Test squad for good. A dip in performance since 2024 Since the start of 2024, Khawaja has faced a noticeable dip in his performance, as bowlers have figured out how to get him out, and he hasn’t been able to adapt. With David Warner retiring, the responsibility fell on Khawaja to solidify the opening position, but the Australian team has been left scratching their heads as he hasn’t bounced back from his slump. Over the last 17 Test matches for Australia, he’s managed to score 878 runs, averaging a mere 30. To make matters worse, he’s only hit one Test century during this time, and the pressure is really piling up on him. In contrast, between 2022 and 2023, Khawaja racked up an impressive 2,290 runs in 24 Tests, but in the subsequent two years, he’s seen a significant decline, failing to even reach 1,000 runs. Read also: Every First-Over Wicket by Mitchell Starc in Test Cricket Backup options are fully ready In the second innings of the Perth Test, Australia decided to take a risk by promoting Travis Head to the top of the order, and it really paid off! He delivered an incredible performance, smashing a brilliant century and almost single-handedly securing the win for Australia. Meanwhile, Jake Weatherald, who struggled in the Perth Test, bounced back with a flashy fifty in the Brisbane Test, showing that he might just be ready to step into the opening role. So now, the Aussies technically have two potential openers to consider as replacements for Khawaja. The Australian team needs a Test transition It's time for the Australian team to think about transitioning. At 38, Khawaja isn't getting any younger, and it might be wise for Australia to start this process sooner rather than later. The last time their core group aged, the Kangaroos struggled to find younger talent to fill the gaps, and they definitely don’t want to repeat that mistake. The transition should kick off with Khawaja, paving the way for others to follow. Plus, as we saw in the Perth Test, the Aussie batter seemed a bit out of sorts, and at 38, his reflexes appeared to be slowing down, making it tough for him to score against the English side.