Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja looks on during a practice session at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on July 24, 2016. Australia plays three Tests against the Sri Lanka, with the first starting in Pallekele on July 26. LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh says Usman Khawaja must become more motivated and show selectors just how much the baggy green means to him to earn his spot back in the Test side.
Khawaja hit four centuries in five matches last summer in Australia, however, he was dropped prior to the third Test during the recent disastrous tour of Sri Lanka.
Waugh said that Khawaja is a talented batsman, however, questioned the 29-year-old's hunger ahead of Australia three-Test series against South Africa, beginning on November 3.
“I would have thought (he comes back in for the injured Shuan Marsh), he’s a world class player. I guess the jury is out on how much he really wants it,” Waugh said.
“Because every time he does well he tends to drop off, so does he get satisfied with his performance?
“I think he’s just got to get a bit hungrier.
“He’s got the talent, I mean we all saw the way he batted last year in Australia, as good as anyone in the world.
“Then to drop off so quickly to me it’s lack of concentration or not respecting opposition enough. But something there (needs to happen to) turn him from a good player to a great player which he’s capable of.”
With Shaun Marsh likely to miss the first Test due to a hamstring injury, one of Khawaja or Joe Burns loom as the most likely inclusions into the side.