Talk is cheap, says reborn Khawaja

Having previously failed to cement his Test status for Australia, Usman Khawaja is ready to make his mark in next month's tour of Bangladesh.

Recalled Test batsman Usman Khawaja believes he is a better cricketer now than the last time he was selected for an Australian side.

But Khawaja says the only way he will cement his spot in the Australian line-up is by proving it in next month's two-Test tour of Bangladesh.

Having been already earmarked as Australia's long-term first drop by coach Darren Lehmann upon his selection on Monday, Khawaja said: "Talk is cheap."

"It makes no difference to me.

"I've had the chance the last couple of times and done the exact same thing.

"I'm a big picture kind of guy."

Khawaja, who turns 29 in December, has been out of the Test set-up for more than two years but has served what selectors see as the ideal apprenticeship at domestic level.

While he's averaged just 25.13 across his nine Tests, Khawaja has averaged 46.62 in the Sheffield Shield and 73 in the domestic one-day competition since he was last dropped in 2013.

He was also made Queensland Bulls captain earlier this year and also led Australia A's tour of India last month.

Yet he rates his Test ascension as a "bonus", having only recently recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered late last year.

"I felt like I was a million miles away from playing cricket, to be honest," Khawaja said.

"You never cater for being out for more than a few weeks and I got told I was out for six to nine months, which is always tough to hear.

"I felt really good beforehand, I was playing some really good cricket before I hurt myself which was really disappointing, because it was a big summer coming up.

"I knew if I came back and left off from where I was, things would eventually look after themselves."


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Source: AAP


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