Usman Khawaja is a step closer to playing for Australia again after being cleared to return to competitive cricket in the Sheffield Shield.

The batsman was named by the Queensland Bulls on Thursday to play in its match against Victoria at the Gabba next week.

Khawaja suffered a meniscus tear in October against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and required surgery on his return to Australia.

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Khawaja suffered a meniscus tear in October against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and required surgery on his return to Australia. Source: AAP

He told Fox Cricket on Wednesday night that his injury was “coming along well” and that he expected to be fit before the first Test against India on December 6.

Australia has been sweating on his fitness after he made a career-defining century in the drawn first Test against Pakistan. He ended the series as its best batsman with 229 runs at 76.33.

The 31-year-old is a vital piece to the Australian puzzle since the suspensions to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were handed out.

In their absence, he is Australia’s most experienced Test batsman after appearing in 35 Tests - making 2455 runs at 43.83.

He’s made 218 (at 54.50) of those runs at Adelaide Oval, where the first Test of the summer will be played.

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