Queensland captain admits being dropped is "never easy" but won't let it affect his Ashes preparation
Khawaja puts axings behind him for Ashes
Usman Khawaja says he's been dropped enough to mean the latest Test snub will not hurt his confidence ahead of the Ashes.
The Queensland captain was disappointed to be given just one game to prove himself on spinning wickets in the recent series in Bangladesh.
But, fresh off a big hundred in Brisbane club cricket on the weekend, the elegant left-hander says he is in a good frame of mind for the domestic season, starting with the Bulls' JLT One-Day Cup opener against the CA XI next Friday.
Khawaja's sporadic 24-Test career has featured two gluttonous summers in Australia but has been stalled by recent snubs in Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.
He went almost eight months without representing his country in any format before being recalled to the side in Dhaka, only to be dropped after one Test.
"It's definitely given me plenty of experience of being dropped," mused Khawaja on Thursday.
"In for one game in Bangladesh and a couple in Sri Lanka then going out again; it's not ideal, never easy and never fun.
"The games I have missed out on have been the highest run-scoring games, which has been disappointing sitting on the sidelines, but that's just how it is."
Tipped to return for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in November, Khawaja says he has learnt to roll with the punches.
"That stuff doesn't motivate me and it's not really (a chip on my shoulder)," he said.
"All that stuff is out of my control and I know from past experiences the more you harp on it the worse it gets."
Khawaja scored 162 and 79 on the weekend for Brisbane club Valley to show he had not suffered despite his lack of time at the crease.
"I felt pretty good on the weekend and I've never been the kind of guy that needs to hit a lot of balls," he said.
"I feel like I can go in and out of cricket, keep things pretty simple and not feel like I'm ever out of touch or form whether I'm scoring runs or not."
He will skipper a Queensland side brimming with young talent and coached by former Bulls wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe.
"I'm not going out there in the one-day cup to strengthen my chances for Test cricket or anything else," Khawaja said.
"My focus is in on trying to win this tournament."