Veteran Khawaja chasing elusive Shield final win

Queensland captain Usman Khawaja has ticked off plenty of accomplishments in his decorated career but the veteran batsman says he would love to add what has become an elusive Marsh Sheffield Shield final win to his name.

With the Bulls set to host Khawaja's former state, New South Wales, at Allan Border Field in Brisbane from Thursday, Khawaja finally has another chance to taste victory in the domestic decider, a decade after his first appearance in a Shield final.

That came for the Blues against Tasmania in March 2011, but despite a top five consisting of David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Khawaja, Phil Jaques and Simon Katich, the visitors were beaten by seven wickets in Hobart.

While Khawaja has in fact been part of two Shield-winning campaigns – for NSW in 2007-08, and with Queensland in 2017-18 – the 34-year-old missed the final on both occasions: in his maiden season for the Blues, he wasn’t picked; and 10 years on, the then Queensland skipper was touring South Africa with Australia.

"I'd love to win a Sheffield Shield … and if we get to that, there's probably going to be a bit more emotion involved than normal," he told cricket.com.au last month.

"I think I've been a part of three Shield finals and never been part of a winning team – I was part of one losing team with New South Wales, missed out on one here (with Queensland) when I was away (in 2012-13), then missed out again three years ago.

"So I haven't been part of a Shield winning final, but I'd love to be part of one."

After five seasons with NSW that garnered 2,222 first-class runs at 48.30, Khawaja switched allegiances to Queensland ahead of the 2012-13 summer. He was 25 at the time and had played just six of his 44 Tests.

Khawaja appeared in six Shield matches in his maiden season with the Bulls, posting his first Shield hundred in a maroon cap and averaging 39.81, but as his side were beaten in the final by Tasmania, he was in India for the 2013 Test tour during which he did not play a match and was instead caught up in the 'Homeworkgate' controversy.

Five years on, when Khawaja was in South Africa with the Australians, wicketkeeper-batsman Jimmy Peirson led Queensland to their first Shield triumph since Khawaja's arrival.

Now here they are again, this time looking to claim title number nine and with almost 20 months having passed since his most recent international appearance, Khawaja is firmly at the helm.

"If we keep doing the little things right, we'll give ourselves the best chance to win," he said.

"We've got a very good side, and we're hungry to win – hungry for more success."

2021 Marsh Sheffield Shield Final

Queensland v NSW Blues at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, April 15-19. Play begins each morning at 9.30am AEST

Queensland squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Xavier Bartlett, Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Bryce Street, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

NSW squad: Sean Abbott, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Josh Hazlewood, Lachlan Hearne, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Mitchell Starc

The 2021 Marsh Sheffield Shield Final will be broadcast LIVE in Australia on Fox Cricket & Kayo Sports. ABC Grandstand's live radio coverage will also be available on cricket.com.au & the CA Live app