Khawaja: I’ve always wanted to play ODIs

Australia

Now that he has established himself in the Test side, Australia batsman Usman Khawaja wants to show his versatility and play against the white ball at international level.

Khawaja has been called into the Aussie ODI squad for the current series against India after opener David Warner was released to be with his wife, who is expected to give birth to their second child any day now.

The left-handed Khawaja will most likely not immediately get a game as Shaun Marsh was the reserve batsman in the squad before the first ODI, which Australia won by five wickets in Perth on Tuesday.

The Pakistan-born Khawaja is certainly in great nick with the willow as he has scored three Test hundreds this summer while in-between those he hit a century and a fifty for the Sydney Thunder in the T20 Big Bash League.

Now the 29 year-old, who already has only played in three ODIs, wants to post big scores against the white-ball at the highest level.

Khawaja said: "The hunger is to play as many forms of the game as possible. I've made it clear that I've always wanted to play one-dayers. But sometimes it's about timing.

"If I'm going to get my opportunity, I don't know, but when I do get it hopefully I can take it and be more than just a Test cricketer. At this moment I'm really happy with how I'm hitting the white ball.

"I'm really happy with how the Test stuff went. There's a lot of one-day cricket coming up in the next year. I'd love to be a part of it. Hopefully I can contribute moving forward."

The second ODI, of the five-match series, against India takes place in Brisbane on Friday.

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