Significant day no stress for Usman

Usman Khawaja is a laidback, witty individual so it was little surprise that he chose to answer a question regarding the fact he is set to take on the country of his birth with an amusing anecdote.

Khawaja, born in Pakistan five days short of 30 years ago, fronted the media at the Gabba today, two days out from the first Commonwealth Bank Test.

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The left-hander is the first Australian Test cricketer to have been born in Pakistan, making Thursday an occasion of some significance – if not for Khawaja himself, certainly for his parents and many other Pakistan-born Australians who see the unassuming Khawaja as a role model.

"I don't think (it's special), I haven't thought about it that way – maybe for my parents because they grew up in Pakistan and were there for a long time," he said.

"Obviously I was born there, so it's a very close part of me.

"Actually funnily enough I was waiting downstairs and I needed the changeroom locker to be opened for us.

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"I was just waiting and the Queensland Cricket lady came down.

"She was like, 'Oh, you need the locker rooms open?' I went 'yes please' and she started walking to the Pakistani change room. 

"I was like, 'No, I'm that way (pointing), thank you'." 

Khawaja played a T20 International against Pakistan during the ICC World T20 in March, but that moment escaped much public attention due to the fact it was played during football season, and in India.

One senses he'd prefer this moment to be similarly unobtrusive; the naturalised Queenslander's engagement this year flew very much under the radar and while he is a proud practising Muslim, he prefers to talk cricket or, better still, let his cricket do the talking.

But Khawaja did offer some insights into his family history and the link he still holds with the nation of his birth.

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"I came (to Australia) around four-and-a-half (years of age)," he recalled.

"I've had glimpses of memories from before I left.

"I was born in Islamabad. So I have glimpses of memories of our old place and whatnot, but nothing too substantial … most of my childhood memories revolve around being in Australia, being in Sydney.

"Culture is very important, as is religion ... (culture) not as important as religion obviously.

"My parents are Australian but they're also very Pakistani. If I broke it down, the way I act and what I do, is very Australian, but there are always parts of me when I talk to my parents I still at times try to speak Urdu here and there.

"It's not as good as them but they can understand what's going on.

"It is a big part of my life when I'm with my parents or around my parents but other than that it's usually quite normal."

On the matter of potential divided loyalties, Khawaja says it's a non-issue.

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"My parents are truly Australian now – they don't support Pakistan at all," he added.

"They haven't for a long time now.

"They were there for 30 years but now they just want me to do well and want Australia to win every single time no matter who we're playing.

"There is no allegiance conflict at all."

Fresh from hundreds in three consecutive first-class matches, Khawaja heads into Test number one against Pakistan looking for Test match hundred number six.

Back on his adopted home patch of the Gabba, where he compiled a maiden Test century 13 months ago to set a stellar run of form in motion, he appears well placed to make it happen.

"Obviously runs are flowing at the moment," he said.

"I'm feeling really good. I’m not a big one on believing in form – in or out – because in this game, everything changes every single game; the wickets change, your opposition changes, the ground changes, the balls seem like they react differently whether it’s a red ball, a pink ball or a white ball, they all seem to react differently on different days on different wickets."

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