Steve Smith pays tribute to Usman Khawaja ahead of farewell Test for Australia

The 39-year-old Khawaja confirmed that the Ashes finale will be final bow for Australia, where he will his 88th Test and scored 6206 runs that includes 16 centuries and averages more than 43.

Smith and Khawaja came through the New South Wales pathways together and Khawaja's Test debut against England in 2011 was the fifth of Smith's career after he had debuted a few months earlier against Pakistan.

"I remember playing against him in a couple of Under-17 versus Under-19 games for New South Wales and watching him bat," Smith told reporters on the eve of the Sydney Test match.

"The way he pulled the ball, I was like, this guy picks length up quicker than anyone I've seen. He was pulling balls off the top of the stumps.

"I feel like throughout his career, he's been batting his best when he's been doing that as well. And just his progression over a long period of time has been outstanding."

Khawaja's retirement could spark a transition for the Australia Test team as the selectors try to bring the average age of the squad down.

The 36-year-old Smith though has no immediate plans to call it quits as he sees a role for himself helping take the side through to the 2027 World Test Championship final and Ashes tour.

"I think with Usman dropping off now as one of our experienced players, it probably wouldn't be ideal if him and I went out this week, for instance," Smith said.

"So, no, I want to keep playing and don't read into that too much. I'm still playing. I'm enjoying it.

"I think ultimately you probably want a group of players that you can get to and have playing in that cycle to get to the World Test Championship final, but that's a question for the coach and selectors as well."