A Test return is on the horizon but Usman Khawaja also has the 2019 World Cup in his sights.
Khawaja revealed he was shattered a knee injury suffered in Australia's ill-fated Test series against Pakistan had denied him a World Cup audition in the current one-dayers against South Africa.
But Khawaja was convinced he would still have time to impress for the 2019 tournament in England as he planned his injury comeback in red ball cricket.
After undergoing knee surgery two weeks ago, Khawaja is ahead of schedule in his recovery and aims to prove his fitness for next month's first Test against India in Adelaide by playing a Sheffield Shield match for Queensland.
He is believed to be eyeing Queensland's Shield clash with Victoria from November 27 as his return from the injury suffered in Australia's heavy second Test loss to Pakistan in UAE.
Khawaja said he was gutted that he had been sidelined for the one-day series against South Africa that resumes in Adelaide on Friday, missing a chance to impress selectors before the World Cup.
The classy left-hander has played just 17 ODIs over six years and has not featured during Australia's woeful streak of 17 losses in their past 19 internationals.
"I wanted to play one-day cricket (against South Africa) because targeting that World Cup is a big thing - it's one of my major goals," Khawaja said.
"I was pretty down, that (missing ODI series against Proteas) was probably one of the reasons.
"But my wife put it into perspective when she said there are plenty more opportunities still to come."
Khawaja injured his left knee in a second Test training mishap and took no further part in the game as Australia slumped to a 373-run defeat.
It ensured the Test series left a bitter taste for Khawaja, despite hitting an inspirational 141 in Australia's stirring first Test draw.
"It was disappointing, that second Test. You always feel like you let your teammates down when you get injured and we did lose that second match," Khawaja said.
"For me it was rewarding that first match that we got out of it with a draw but obviously I would have liked to have played that second match and won that game."
Australian Associated Press
