Khawaja disappointed with ODI omission

Australia A and Queensland Bulls captain Usman Khawaja says he is “very disappointed” in being overlooked for Australia’s limited-overs tour of the British Isles later this month.

Khawaja has been a one-day run machine in the in the past 18 months, scoring 1,216 runs at an average of 71.5 with four centuries.

Khawaja scored a ton against India A last week

But the elegant left-hander’s output against the white ball wasn’t enough to warrant a spot in the one-day international squad to play Ireland and England following the fifth Test of the Ashes at The Oval.

“When I found out I was very disappointed,” Khawaja said from Chennai following Australia A’s tri-series final defeat to India A.

“I thought I was next in line, but obviously I don’t pick the team.

“That’s cricket. That’s selection. It happens.

“I’m not the first person to be disappointed about not being selected.

“I played some very good cricket in Australia the last couple of one-day series and I was the leading run-scorer over there (Australia).

“And I performed well over here but unfortunately that still wasn’t enough to get in the one-day side.

“(It was a) tough day or two after the decision but I’m fine now and looking forward to going home and playing some more cricket.”

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Khawaja’s purple patch in the coloured clothing began two summers ago when he amassed 423 runs at 71, helping guide Queensland to the trophy with a man-of-the-match century in the final.

The 28-year-old was in a rare touch last summer in the Matador One-Day Cup, scoring 523 runs to finish the competition as the leading run-scorer, and was unlucky not to be crowned player of the tournament.

At North Sydney Oval last October, Khawaja scored 166 from 110 balls in Queensland’s successful pursuit of Tasmania’s astonishing 1-398 with 16 balls to spare, proving he has the firepower to score at a rapid rate at the top of the order.

Highlights of Khawaja's knock against Tasmania

A devastating ACL injury ruled out Khawaja for nine months, but he returned to action in July to helm Australia A and once again star in the one-day format alongside Bulls teammate Joe Burns, the man who pipped him for a position in the limited-over squad.

While Khawaja might have missed out on one-day honours, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has tipped the graceful stroke player to return to a transitioning Test team under new captain Steve Smith.

“I’d start with Usman Khawaja,” Ponting said.

“I think he’ll get an opportunity somewhere near the top of the order for Australia and pretty soon I think.

“Started last Sheffield Shield season in probably career-best form, had a bad injury that put an end to his season last year.

“He’s in India at the moment as captain of the A team and scoring runs over there so I think he’s someone they’ll definitely look at.”