Discard Usman Khawaja feeling the BBL love at Sydney Thunder

Unwanted by Australia’s Test selectors, Usman Khawaja’s feeling the love all over again back at Sydney Thunder.

Usman Khawaja returns to his home team Sydney Thunder for the Big Bash. Picture: AAP

Unwanted by Australia’s Test selectors, Usman Khawaja’s feeling the love all over again back at Sydney Thunder.

As far as the Thunder are concerned, Australia’s loss is Western Sydney’s gain as their prodigal son returns for his first full season of Big Bash in seven years.

“Having him back in our team is incredible,” Thunder paceman Gurinder Sandhu said.

“A couple of years ago, he pretty much won us the title so to get him back is a huge bonus.

“He obviously has a lot of experience so brings a real calmness to the team but he’s also just a great guy to have around.”

While Khawaja has been limited to a handful of appearances because of his commitments to the international side, his cameos have been unforgettable. In BBL05, in 2015-16, he made just four appearances for the Thunder but hit 345 runs, including two centuries, at an average of 172.50.

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He won three man-of-the-match awards, including in the final when he helped the Thunder win the title for the first and so far only time, but it was something else that happened off the field that season that he cherishes most about his time with the Thunder.

“I wasn’t supposed to play that season but I did my hamstring and was out for six weeks so they (Test selectors) told me I had to go and play for the Thunder to prove my fitness,” he said.

“I scored a hundred then went to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test and scored a hundred there and when I came back to the Thunder I scored more runs so it was a great a little period where things were just going really well. But the best thing about that time off was that was when I met my wife Rachel.

“If it wasn’t for that, I don’t know if we’d met and I’m someone who believes things happen for a reason so I was obviously meant to find her during that time.”

It was during that injury lay-off that Khawaja also rediscovered some of his lost passion for cricket.

“I don’t look too far ahead. I think I play my best cricket when I stay in the moment and don’t look too far ahead because if you do all those little things right, the other stuff just looks after itself … I just want to keep it pretty simple and playing for the Thunder is something I’ve always really enjoyed.’’

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH