The player dubbed “Elvis” by teammates – dumped Test batsman Usman Khawaja – has had his share of big hits but prefers to go to No.6 with a bullet ahead of the Ashes series.
Khawaja is on song in the domestic one-day tournament, notching four half centuries in his last five innings to guide Queensland to Sunday’s final.
His string of scores in the 60s for the Bulls has rekindled an old moniker first earned during his Sydney grade cricket days with Randwick Petersham.
“They would call me Elvis because he was king of the `60s,” laughed Khawaja, who has amassed 322 one-day runs at 64.4 ahead of the final.
The King of Rock and Roll was no stranger to going No.1, but a Test top six spot is in Khawaja’s sights after his stirring return since being left out of the last Ashes Test in England.
Khawaja appears to be in a three-way battle for a Test middle order nod ahead of next month’s Ashes opener in Brisbane along with Australian one-day captain George Bailey and a revitalised Shaun Marsh.
Khawaja reckons he only got one tip from national selectors after being left out of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval – and it appears he has ticked that box.
“The selectors didn’t really say anything to me other than score runs,” he told AAP.
“They kept it pretty simple. It’s not rocket science.
“To be honest I don’t know where I stand at the moment (in the Test pecking order).
“We have three Shield games to come (before the first Test team is finalised).
“I have learned not to worry about things you can’t control.”
Khawaja, 26, has had a rollercoaster ride in the Australian team since his 2011 Test debut.
He has played nine Tests, amassing 377 runs at 25.13 with two half centuries – hardly an Elvis-like hit rate.
But if Khawaja tops the one-day run scoring charts, he looks set to be in line for an important Ashes rehearsal – Australia A’s tour clash with England in Hobart from November 6-9.
He sits fourth in the one-day run scorers behind South Australia’s Michael Klinger (380), Victoria’s Cameron White (345) and NSW big hitter David Warner (330).
Khawaja ended his run of 60s with a masterful 88 not out off 95 balls in their rain-affected win over WA on Tuesday, booking a final berth.
Not notching a ton has been frustrating, but Khawaja wouldn’t mind if his scores continued to warrant the Elvis nickname.
“Club teammates first said it to take the mickey out of me and it has stuck,” he said.
“I would try and remind them that I have the club record for most hundreds, which I think is 15. I had to come back with something to shut them up.
“But I would rather get 60 than a duck any day of the week.”
