MELBOURNE: Having been pulled out of Australia’s ODI team to prepare for India, then ignored by selectors for every match in the subcontinent, batsman Usman Khawaja is guarded about his chances of winning a Test recall for the Ashes.
The stylish number three suffered a further blow on Thursday when he was left out of Australia’s ODI squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales.
The India snub, though, was a bitter pill to swallow for a player who had averaged 66.75 in the preceding Test series against Pakistan after topping the runs list in a losing cause against South Africa.
Rubbing salt into the wounds, Khawaja was left to carry the drinks during the four-Test series in India and watch his replacement Shaun Marsh manage only 151 runs at an average of 18.87 from his eight innings.
“The most frustrating thing for me was not to play those three ODIs in New Zealand,†Khawaja told Fox Sports. “I got pulled out of that series to prepare for India and then not playing was a bit hard.â€
Khawaja is likely to be restored to Australia’s top order for the Ashes, given the left-hander’s fine record on home pitches over the past two seasons.
But he has learnt not to look too far ahead.
“It is the pinnacle of cricket when you represent Australia playing against the old enemy,†he said.
“But to be frank it is still far away and a lot can happen between now and the Ashes.â€
