Usman Khawaja, who last played for his country in August 2019 during the last Ashes in England will be making his return to the international fold with the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney.
He will be replacing Travis Head in the middle who tested positive for Covid-19. However, the Pakistan born Aussie is aware that it is just a one-off opportunity and Head will eventually return for the fifth game in Hobart.
But even in this one-off game for him, he wants to bat well and lay the foundation for his selection for Australia’s upcoming Test tours to the subcontinent where they will play Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India in near future.
"It's one of those things where even if I do play, it'll only be for one game. I understand that situation, (and) hopefully, I can go out there and score a hundred and do well for the team in the absence of Heady (Travis Head),” Khawaja said in a chat with reporters ahead of the Sydney Test.
"There's a lot of cricket still to come up. I'm just putting my head down, making sure I'm working really hard and doing the best I can for Australia whenever I get the opportunity
I'll potentially have one game for Australia here, but even if that doesn't happen, I know there's still a lot of cricket on the subcontinent which I feel I'm very suited to, and which I'm looking forward to hopefully being a part of moving forward,” he added further.
All Australian players have tested negative except Marcus Harris, whose tests results are yet not disclosed. He dined with Head the night before the latter testing Covid positive. The fourth Test would begin on January fifth at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.