.Usman Khawaja will definitely end up being Australia's earliest Test cricketer in over two decades this summer season as the expert opener gets ready for his 18th season of professional cricket.The Queenslander, that transforms 38 this December, will definitely barring injury become the nation's oldest Examination cricketer given that former captain Steve Waugh. Before Tugga, the previous Australian to play Test cricket after celebrating their 38th birthday celebration was actually the famous Allan Border.Khawaja, the ruling ICC Exam Cricketer of the Year, assumed his worldwide job was over after being actually went down before the 2019/20 summer.However, the left-hander has been the Australian Exam edge's leading run-scorer since his fortuitous callback in the course of the 2021/22 Ashes series, collecting 2564 runs at 53.41 along with seven hundreds-- merely England's Joe Root has handled additional runs throughout that period.Watch India v New Zealand LIVE & special to Fox Athletics, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Beginning your free of charge trial today > Khawaja believes he "most definitely" would certainly have resigned years ago otherwise for the "cooled, relaxed setting" created through nationwide train Andrew McDonald as well as Examination captain Dab Cummins.While he formerly felt disappointed by the nationwide team's strategy to training, Khawaja applauded the present mentoring workers for recognizing his necessities as a sportsmen entering into the golden of their having fun career.Curating a personal instruction program has actually permitted Khawaja to make his absolute best cricket at a grow older where others have blended off.Usman Khawaja of Australia. Photo through Pat Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFP" Participating in cricket for Australia is quite difficult," Khawaja informed Fox Cricket last month." There were actually a great deal of packages that I needed to feel like I needed to beat, not necessarily creating me a far better cricketer. Our team only had to perform it because that's what we had to perform." There were a great deal of traits our company carried out in relations to preparing for suits and also carrying out warm-ups that believed a bit weird to me, it didn't truly make sense." When a fella's having fun at 37 compared to when a fella's 24, they are actually both visiting need to have incredibly various things. The way that they prepare is visiting be different, what they need prior to a suit is extremely different. "It felt like for a long time everybody constantly performed the exact same point, no matter where you remained in your lifestyle or in your game, or even where your physical bodies were."( Cummins) will inform you, he definitely will certainly not teach as a lot now as you performed five years back. You can't. You can't melt the candle at both ends. There's a bit extra regard for that right now. "So undoubtedly, if it was the old means of doing it, I needed to be actually performing whatever that everybody else carried out, I could be like, 'Ok, I am actually performed, no thank you.'" It is actually most likely the reason that I'm still participating in." The majority of Trial run for Australia after 35th birthday2564-- Usman Khawaja2554-- Steve Waugh2473-- Allan Border2323-- Michael Hussey1996-- Chris RogersUsman Khawaja of Australia. Photograph through Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesDespite everything Khawaja has actually achieved in the course of his 13-year Examination career, featuring 2 Ashes triumphs and a Planet Examination Championship label, he still have not included in a productive Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign.The Queenslander was actually gone down in front of the 2011/12 whitewash, while he additionally wasn't chosen for the 2014/15 set, which stays Australia's recent Border-Gavaskar Prize triumph.Ahead of what are going to easily be his last Test set against India, Khawaja is positive Australia can finish its own ten-year dry spell versus the Asian giant." This definitely seems like among the strongest teams our experts have actually eaten a while," Khawaja claimed." We've been playing some truly great cricket, yet India's team is excellent also, which is why everybody's therefore enthusiastic to view the No. 1 and No. 2 teams differing." This Australian staff is actually quite settled. It's been tough for a while." There's no reasons, whoever wins is actually more than likely the best group on the planet." I presume our company reside in the most effective position our experts have actually resided in an although to take India on." Khawaja has scored 544 Test runs versus India at 34.00, while that body loses to 28.28 on home soil.However, the left-hander takes pride in his performance during the 2018 Perth Test against India, where he top-scored in the second innings along with a rough 72 in hard conditions." That wicket was hideous," Khawaja laughed." Everyone's only getting hit. I received attacked in the nuts. (Aaron) Finch was actually simply getting appealed his handwear cover he strolled off the field. People simply obtaining reached left, straight, as well as facility. It was a new Perth gate which had not been very all set at that time." That is actually the stuff I review. If I failed to compose runs there certainly, they would possess chased our total amount down and also we would possess dropped." Usman Khawaja of Queensland. Image by Morgan Hancock/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesUsman Khawaja's home Examination batting average74.40 vs New Zealand58.11 vs South Africa57.44 vs the West Indies56.00 vs Sri Lanka53.83 vs England48.70 vs Pakistan28.28 vs IndiaUnlike several of his Australian allies, Khawaja enjoyed a peaceful off-season that included plenty of golf as well as loved ones opportunity. He stood for the Vancouver Knights in the Global T20 Canada, but typically really did not participate in any sort of competitive cricket over the winter.Having started his home summer season along with a half-century versus Victoria in last week's one-day match at Junction Oval, Khawaja's focus switches in the direction of the Sheffield Defense, which acquires underway on Tuesday.To manage his workloads, the 37-year-old expects to merely play three Sheffield Cover matches prior to the first Examination against India in late November.Queensland will experience Western Australia for its Sheffield Guard opener at the WACA coming from Tuesday, with the first round arranged for 1.30 pm AEDT.