Khawaja set to become first Muslim to wear Baggy Green

Usman Khawaja will have some very big boots to fill when he makes his debut for Australia in the fifth Ashes Test.

Usman Khawaja will have some very big boots to fill when he makes his debut for Australia in the fifth Ashes Test next week but the 24-year-old is more concerned about making the most of his call up to the national side. The free-scoring,fast-quipping,guitar-playing,blog-savvy lefthander was named in Australias 12-man squad for the Sydney Test on Thursday and is almost certain to replace injured captain Ricky Ponting in the top order.

Ponting,the second most prolific batsman in Test history,is being rested to allow his fractured finger to recuperate and Khawaja was not thinking any further than the five days next week when Australia hope to level the Ashes series at 2-2. Im not really here to fill Ricky Pontings shoes,Im there to go out and do as well as possible and put my team in the best place possible and that means score runs, he said on Thursday.

Other than that,theres not really much more that I can do than just enjoy my cricket. To replace 12,000 runs,thats a big feat and I still havent scored any so Id better go out and score my first one first. Rickys a legendary cricketer and a legend of a bloke… hes the kind of guy,if he told me to jump off a bridge,I probably would, Khawaja,who is normally an opener,added. Me taking over Rickys place? I highly doubt that. Im just happy to get the opportunity while hes unfortunately injured.

Born in Pakistan to a cricket-enthusiast father who subsequently took his family to Australia,Khawaja has been accumulating runs since making his debut for New South Wales two years ago and boasts a first class average of 51.7. He was called up to the Test squad for the series against Pakistan in England earlier this year,and again when Michael Clarke was an injury worry before the first Ashes test,but failed to get a game.

Khawaja was still always the first name bandied about when replacements were being considered for injured or failing batsmen and has long said he was ready. I guess you need that confidence,Ive played first class cricket for a long time but I guess youre never really gonna know until you go out there and do your thing, he said.

Khawaja said he celebrated his elevation to the squad with a thrash on the guitar and a spell on the Playstation but had no time to consider the significance of becoming the first Muslim to represent Australia. Thats the first time Ive thought about that all day, he said when asked about it. Its been a childhood dream for me. Ever since I can remember,Ive wanted to play for Australia. The dream was a long way away when I was younger and its a lot closer now and Im just jumping out of my boots and hoping I get the opportunity.Nick Mulvenney