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Matured Khawaja primed for return

Almost five years after his Baggy Green debut, the left-hander is well placed to capitalise on another chance

Usman Khawaja says a change of temperament has been the key to both his rejuvenation as a batsman and his recall to Australia’s Test squad.

It was almost five years ago that Khawaja wore Baggy Green for the first time, replacing none other than an injured Ricky Ponting at No.3.

On paper, it looks an inauspicious debut; middling scores of 37 and 21 as England thrashed Australia by an innings on Khawaja’s home patch, the Sydney Cricket Ground.

But with a bright start to his first innings (he flew to 15 from eight balls and played a perfect pull shot for four from his second ball) and the nation’s supporters looking for a new hero after a miserable Ashes series, Khawaja was roundly applauded by the SCG masses and immediately tagged as one for the long term.

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In the intervening period, things went awry.

Poor form and more recently injury conspired against the left-hander, so much so that in the four years and eight months since that debut, he’s added only another eight Tests to his record – and none since the 2013 Ashes in England.

Now though, the 28-year-old, matured and comfortable with his development as a cricketer – and perhaps also as a person – believes he has it in him to prosper with another chance in Australia’s top three.

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“I know that sport is the kind of thing where you can only control what you can control – it’s a bit of a cliché, but it's so true,” Khawaja told cricket.com.au.

“I try not to worry about the other stuff too much anymore because I know how quickly things can change, both positively and negatively.

“I've been through both.

“I'm quite comfortable with where I am right now.

“Hopefully I can go over to Bangladesh, contribute where I can and do well for the boys and hopefully play for Australia.”

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On that last point, national coach Darren Lehmann has made it clear that Khawaja is set to fill one of what will be two or three vacant spots at the top of the order, depending on where captain Steve Smith elects to bat.

"We think he can actually play a lot of Test cricket for us,” Lehmann said following the squad announcement for Bangladesh.

“He'll get a good opportunity at it, a good run and he's one of the guys we talked about at the end of the (Ashes) Test series.

"The way he's played over the past few years I think he's showed (he's ready).

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“He went on the 2013 Ashes tour and probably didn't play as well as he would have liked. But he's gone back and done exactly what, as a coach (I want to see).

“He's changed his game a little bit and delivered what we wanted, which was a thirst of runs in all formats.”

That change comes with the aforementioned attitude adjustment. Instead of putting too much pressure on himself, Khawaja, who in July and August captained Australia A on their tour of India, says he has “probably gone the other way”.

“I'm a chilled-out guy,” he added. “(Having fun) is how I like to play cricket and I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I went about it any other way.

“I love to have fun and joke around and be a pest. And it doesn't change for me whether I'm captain or not, I'm still being myself.

“And that's what I like to bring to my cricket. Because while you're playing and representing Australia and Australia A, it should be the best time of your life.

“That's how I see it.

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“So I made it clear to the guys early on (the Australia A tour) that this is all about us having fun, enjoying our cricket and not worrying about the rest too much.

“We were all obviously very good players going over there and in a good space, we wouldn't have been picked for Australia A if we weren't.”

With an absence from the Test team now extending beyond two years, Khawaja could be forgiven for having wavered in his belief that he would add to his eight caps.

Not so, he insists.

“I always felt like I had a lot to offer and I still do,” he said. “I've always had a goal to play consistently for Australia and that's still a goal.

“But at the end of the day all I try to do is enjoy my cricket and enjoy these experiences because it doesn't last forever.

“No-one was expecting me to be back and playing so quickly. I came back after six-and-a-half months and started playing again after a knee reconstruction, which is quite out of the norm.

“So I was happy that I got through that whole Indian series fit and healthy, we won games and I scored a few runs, too.

“I ticked all the boxes for me, so looking at the big picture I was really happy.”