Usman Khawaja's purple patch continues

Usman Khawaja says he doesn't know the reason for his career-best batting form, after his unbeaten centurey helped Sydney reach the BBL final.

Sydney Thunder Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja says he doesn't know the reason for his career-best batting form. (AAP)

Usman Khawaja doesn't know why.

And he doesn't know for how long.

He's just grateful he's in the form of his life.

"There's a lot of hundreds in the space of three months," he said after smacking an unbeaten century to steer Sydney Thunder into their first Big Bash League final.

Khawaja's regal 104, from just 59 balls, destroyed the Adelaide Strikers in the Thunder's eight-wicket BBL semi-final win at Adelaide Oval.

The Thunder will next meet the winner of Friday night's semi between Melbourne Stars and the reigning champs, Perth Scorchers.

No matter the opponent, Khawaja wants to let the good times roll.

He's now struck two centuries in this BBL edition.

they follow a Test hundred, and a half-century, against West Indies in a series when he averaged exactly 100.

Which followed two Test tons against New Zealand in a series when he averaged 152.

Why now? Why is it all clicking?

"I can't say why," Khawaja said.

"You get into a space where you're feeling really good and you score runs and the rub of the green comes your way a little bit."

So how long can it continue?

"I don't know. I'm not a fortune teller," he said.

"When you're playing well ... you try to make as many runs as you can for your team because there will be times when I don't make runs.

"You can't score runs every time you go out there. I'm just really grateful I am at the moment."

Grateful. And relaxed. Cricket is now just a game, not a job, for the 29-year-old.

"I never want to put too much pressure on myself or take the game too seriously," Khawaja said.

"I just don't do it anymore. I go out there and have fun.

"Even before I bat I'm jumping around, I'm not really serious. And that is the only way I can enjoy my cricket."

But he's serious about one thing.

Admitting disappointment at being overlooked for Australia's looming T20 series against India, he hopes his short-form feats change the perception of him as a long-form specialist.

"I have had pretty good white ball form over the last three or four years," he said.

"I didn't play last BBL because of my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery). But the BBL before, I think I averaged over 50 with a strikerate of 130 or something.

"So it hasn't come out of nowhere. People just don't remember it."


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3 min read

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Source: AAP



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