Usman Khawaja makes big career move that keeps his partnership with David Warner going in…

Usman Khawaja has lined up his next career move when he decides to step away from professional cricket and will join his opening partner David Warner in the commentary box.

Khawaja, the top run-scorer in the latest Ashes series with 496 runs in 10 innings, will join Fox Sports’ cricket coverage as an analyst during the upcoming Cricket World Cup.

‘I love cricket and I love analysing the game,’ he said on Monday.

‘I have always wanted to stay part of the game when I finish up playing, and commentating just seemed the perfect fit.

‘I’ve always enjoyed Fox Cricket’s coverage. Fox Sports was the first thing I’d put on in the morning as a kid, so the affiliation with the company was a bit more sentimental for me.’

The Aussie opener will turn 37 in December but is yet to make retirement plans 

Fox Cricket signed Warner to a long-term deal in January and commentated on Big Bash League games last summer, ahead of permanently taking up the role upon his retirement from cricket. 

Similarly, Khawaja will join Fox Cricket’s team on a full-time basis at the end of his career.

‘Usman is one of the most respected and resilient cricketers in the world,’ said Fox Sports Executive Director, Steve Crawley.

‘He has an opinion and he’s not afraid to share it.

‘Having him and David Warner continue their partnership in our commentary box will be a great win for fans.’

Khawaja and Warner will both turn 37 before the start of the Test summer.

However, while the latter has already announced plans to retire after the New Year’s Day Test against Pakistan at the SCG, the former is seemingly focused on keep batting for as long as he can.

‘I like playing one summer at a time and seeing how the body is going, how the mind is going and whether I am enjoying it.

‘It is those three things. I am ticking those three boxes at the moment so I will keep playing.’

Khawaja was the leading run scorer in the Ashes with 496 runs in  10 innings

Shane Warne (right) first urged Fox Sports’ bosses to sign Warner to their network

And he said the future looked bright in the opening ranks, no matter who replaced Warner in Tests.

‘Marcus Harris has been travelling with us a lot, everywhere we go. It would be remiss to think that he is not the next in line to open the batting for Australia,’ he explained.

‘[In Queensland] Matt Renshaw has been around and playing some beautiful cricket, and scored a Test hundred in Sydney early on [in his career].

‘Then there’s the likes of Cameron Bancroft, who played really well too in WA and has played for Australia also.’