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Focused Khawaja in 'special touch'

Elegant left-hander finishes Ashes tune-up in style ahead of next week's series-opener

It's been difficult to ignore the noise in three of the most closely watched JLT Sheffield Shield rounds in recent memory but Usman Khawaja has tuned it all out and found his "special touch" ahead of the Magellan Ashes.

Axed for Australia's most recent Test match, just one game into his return to the side, Khawaja has rediscovered his majestic form on his home patch and is a certain starter for the series-opener against England.

Much has been made of his returns abroad (11 Tests, 517 runs at 27.21) but the Queensland captain's record in his own backyard is formidable.

His 10 Tests in Australia over the past two summers have delivered 1085 runs at 77.50, including four of his five career centuries.

And he's picked up right where we left off in the Bulls' three pre-Ashes Shield games. His tally of 347 runs is second only to WA opener Cameron Bancroft and his lofty average of 86.75 through six hits has dispelled any doubts over his spot for the first Test.

Khawaja continues good form with another fifty

Questions over his proficiency on foreign soil aside, Queensland coach Wade Seccombe believes few can match Khawaja's silky ability to adjust to the variety of surfaces this country throws up.

"Uzzie's in special touch at this point in time," the record-breaking former wicketkeeper said during the Bulls' clash with Khawaja's former side NSW.

"In all the conditions we've played in this year, he's looked a class above. He's done it easy.

"The way he adapts to the conditions regardless of whether it's the Gabba, or reversing down in Hobart, or out here at AB (Field), he adapts really well."

While his match-winning 122 against Victoria in Queensland's Shield-opener at the Gabba (the venue for next Thursday's first Test) has been his most eye-catching knock so far this summer, the left-hander’s twin half-centuries against the Blues this week on a dicey wicket were a sure sign Khawaja's seeing them well.

Khawaja compiles Shield century in Brisbane

Small divots had formed in the typically batsman-friendly Allan Border Field pitch due to its initially soft constitution making the likes of former Test quicks Doug Bollinger and Trent Copeland particularly tricky to handle.

But Khawaja tamed NSW's impressive second-string pace attack – also featuring speedster Sean Abbott – with a series of majestic pull shots and sweetly-timed legside flicks, posting 129 runs across the two innings (78 not out and 51) before he was finally dismissed, while his Bulls teammates managed just one half-century between them.

Khawaja stands firm as Bulls falter

His poise against the world-class off-spin of Nathan Lyon too was evident, using his feet with confidence against the country’s leading slow bowler. 

"It would have been nicer to go on in the second innings but it was a tricky wicket," Khawaja explained after the six-wicket defeat, Queensland's first of the Shield season. 

"It never felt like you were in, there were a few divots in there. It started to crack up yesterday arvo and today."

Not nice, Garry! Lyon toasts Shield game

While Lyon unhesitatingly admitted the Ashes have been firmly on his mind throughout the early stages of the season ("The switch had already been flicked in my book," he said), Khawaja has been unwilling to give the summer's main event even fleeting consideration.

"You can't get too far ahead of yourself in cricket, it bites you on the backside," Khawaja told AAP recently.

Staying in the moment has undoubtedly been to Queensland's gain through the first three Shield rounds, and Seccombe believes Khawaja is in the perfect frame of mind to deal with whatever England throw at him when strides out at first drop in front of his adopted home crowd next week.

"I can't speak on behalf of 'Uz' but what I do see is he's leading the team really well," said Seccombe. 

"He's having a laugh and having a good time and as a result he's in some pretty good form. 

"There's a lot of factors there but it does look like he's in a very good space on and off the field."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21