3 February, 2016 11:45

IMRAN GASHKORI | Sports Editor | CONTACT

Usman Khawaja is still not on the radar of prominent Australian ODI selectors, despite being fully dressed in cricket attire and practicing shots with the team physio outside of Eden Park this afternoon.

“We haven’t seen much from him yet,” said chairman of selectors Rod Marsh.

“He’ll show his promise when he develops a little bit,”

Usman Khawaja was, controversially, left out of the Australian side for the opening game of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy because, according to Marsh (senior), “his recent performances didn’t warrant selection”.

Instead, the Australian selectors opted to stick with Western Australian Shaun Marsh – Rod Marsh’s son – at the top of the order, despite the 32-year-old averaging just a tick over 30 in Australia’s recent one-day international and Twenty20 series against India.

Khawaja, on the other hand, has averaged almost 150 from his last 10 digs across all forms, but was still left out of the side to clash with New Zealand at Eden Park.

“But what’s he done for us lately?” Rod Marsh fired. “Usman’s batted very well this summer, at domestic level. We gave him a crack in a T20 and he proved he is not of the right pedigree, yet.”

Marsh went on to describe what it actually takes to be an Australian cricketer. Dedication, mixed with positive relationships.

“Usman should focus on marrying one of the Chappell girls, or Healey’s daughter, Emma,”

“That’s the dedication we need. He needs to embed himself within our close, nepostitic family at Cricket Australia,”

Rod Marsh describes the selection of Shaun Marsh over Khawaja as purely non-political, stating that Shaun “had what it takes,”

“Plus, when we had dinner a few weeks ago he told me how much he wants to stay in the team for a bit longer,”

“That’s the attitude we want!”