Usman Khawaja keeps first Test against India in focus as recovery from knee surgery ‘goes well’

USMAN Khawaja is making strong progress in his bid to play the first Test of the home summer but is staying out of the off-field politics that has sabotaged the Australian game.

Usman Khawaja has his eyes on opening Test of the summer on December 6.

USMAN Khawaja is making strong progress in his bid to play the first Test of the home summer but is staying out of the off-field politics that has sabotaged the Australian game.

A slimline Khawaja, 10 kilograms lighter than he was on the South Africa tour in March, is making a steady recovery from knee surgery after breaking down in the second Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

“The knee is going pretty well so far,’’ Khawaja said.

“I ran at 100 per cent yesterday on the treadmill and will hopefully run outside tomorrow.

Usman Khawaja has his eyes on opening Test of the summer on December 6.

“In an ideal world I would play a Shield game before the first Test (against India in Adelaide from December 6). That is the target but there is still three weeks until then.’’

Khawaja concedes Australian cricket is being buffeted by the winds of change which have seen a string of resignations and sackings including high performance boss Pat Howard.

“I got along with Pat. It is never a nice thing to see someone lose their job no matter who it is. It is a tough time for Australian cricket in some respects and hopefully things will smooth out sooner or later.

“There is obviously a lot of change going on in Australian cricket. As players we try and stay out of it ... to be honest all I care about is the team. I am not a part of that other stuff so it is hard for me to comment what is going on.’’

Khawaja reasserted himself as a Test player with a career-defining century against Pakistan and is now craving to revive his 50-over international career before the World Cup squad in England next year.

For that reason he is disappointed to be missing the current 50-over series against South Africa.

Usman Khawaja hopes he still has a future in the ODI arena.

“I felt like I was putting my hand up and I really wanted to get among it if selected. Targeting that World Cup is a big thing. It is one of my major goals.

“But there are plenty of opportunities. I was pretty down and that was one of the reasons why.

“I have done well for Queensland over the years in one-day cricket and feel I could do well (in the Australian side) but at the moment I am still injured.

“I have had chats to Justin about it. He knows where I am up to.’’

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Originally published as Usman Khawaja keeps first Test against India in focus as recovery from knee surgery ‘goes well’