Khawaja's purple patch re-visited

No one is seeing the ball better than Usman Khawaja.

The elegant left-hander is having a summer to remember, dismantling bowling attacks no matter the opponent, venue or format.

Former Australia opener Chris Rogers says Khawaja has overcome some technical issues in his game to be one of the most dominant batsmen on the planet.

"There was a lot of talk about how good he was quite a few years ago … I saw a few issues with his game but he's ironed them out and taken giant strides forwards, a bit like Steve Smith," Rogers told cricket.com.au. 

"At the moment he's batting as well as anyone and that's a credit to him because it hasn't been smooth sailing for him, he's had to work this out. 

"That bodes well for the future."

Khawaja's summer stats make scarcely believable reading. From the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba in November, Khawaja has rattled off scores of 174, 9*, 121, 109*, 144, 56, 62, 104* and 70. It totals 849 runs at 141.5 across all formats.

That equates to 504 Test match runs at 126 against the Black Caps and West Indies, with another 345 at 172.5 in the Big Bash League.

His dream run started 12 innings ago with a century in the nation's capital.

In October 2015, Khawaja was pushing for Test selection following the retirements of Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers. He had captained Australia A to victory against India A in the subcontinent and had been recalled to the Test squad to face Bangladesh, a tour that was postponed due to security concerns. 

Nothing was certain, but Khawaja made a massive statement, scoring an unbeaten 111 against New Zealand while playing in a tour match for the Cricket Australia XI in Canberra. Little did we know, this was only the beginning.

WATCH: Classy Khawaja posts century

Following his knock in the capital, Khawaja was out cheaply in his first Sheffield Shield match for the season, making 21 and 11 for Queensland against Victoria, the only scratch on his near faultless summer.

But the 29-year-old had done enough to earn a recall to the Test team for the first time since August 2013, vindicating the selectors' faith with an imperious maiden century worth 174. 

WATCH: Khawaja's majestic maiden Test ton

Khawaja carried his hot form to the WACA Ground, hitting a composed 121 before a hamstring injury denied him the chance to bat in the second innings and ruled him out of the next two Tests.

WATCH: Another silky Khawaja century

Having missed the historic maiden day-night Test in Adelaide, and watched his replacement in Shaun Marsh hit a sensational 182 against the West Indies in Hobart, debate was fierce as to what the selectors would do. Retain Marsh on the back of his century (not forgetting he scored an important second-innings 49 against the Black Caps in Adelaide) or stick to plan A and welcome back the batsman they had selected to open the Test summer. First though, was the matter of that hamstring. 

To prove his fitness for the Boxing Day Test, Khawaja played for the Sydney Thunder where he continued his magnificent form hitting an unbeaten 109. There was no sign of his hamstring slowing him down as he smashed the Melbourne Stars bowlers to all part of the MCG.

WATCH: Khawaja floors Stars 

Back to full fitness, Khawaja returned to the Test XI in spectacular fashion, blasting 144 on Boxing Day, and a half-century in the second innings for good measure.

WATCH: Khawaja's Boxing Day special

Following the Test series, Khawaja seamlessly moved back into the Thunder top order, hitting 62 off 42 balls against the Melbourne Renegades. 

WATCH: Uzzie races to fifty against the Renegades

In the first BBL|05 semi-final against the Strikers at the Adelaide Oval, Khawaja brought up his second T20 ton of the season, and his sixth century of the summer, smashing an incredible 104 not out off 59 balls. Khawaja dominated the Adelaide bowling attack to take the fourth-placed Thunder into the KFC Big Bash League final. 

WATCH: Khawaja sinks Strikers with pulsating century

And when the Thunder needed him most, in the Big Bash Final, Khawaja delivered. Chasing a sizeable target of 177, Khawaja's blistering form gave the Thunder the perfect start. 

His form prompted Network TEN commentator and Cricket Australia selector Mark Waugh to declare: "He is batting as well as anyone can possibly bat."

Khawaja seemed certain to lock in aother century until he hit a rank long hop from David Hussey directly to the fielder at point, departing for a well made 70. It was enough to help the Thunder secure their maiden Big Bash crown. 

WATCH: Khawaja dominates in the Big Final

Overlooked for the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series against New Zealand, Khawaja's next stop is a return to the Queensland Bulls for their Shield match in Adelaide on February 3 before Australia play two Tests against the Kiwis. 

"I'm playing as well as I ever have in T20 cricket," Khawaja replied when asked if he felt he'd put a strong case forward for a white-ball call-up. 

"(But) there's a lot that goes into selection and I'm not really worried (about that) - I'm so excited that we've won a championship. 

"I've got to keep my head down and make sure that I stay fit and healthy and hopefully there's a lot more runs to come. 

"I've put in a lot of time with my cricket over the past few years. I think I've played some pretty decent cricket in that time and when it's your time, it's your time.

"Things are going really well but I don't play for individual success - nothing feels as good as winning a championship."