‘Confusing’: Questions asked as Khawaja returns for final - nile sport

Test opener Usman Khawaja is set to return to Queensland’s team for the Sheffield Shield final with questions being asked about the competition’s bonus point system after the Bulls made the decider despite ending the 10-round season with less wins than Victoria.

Khawaja, 38 returns after a curious decision to skip the final game in Adelaide, instead attending the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, amid reports he also had a hamstring issue.

But Queensland skipper, and Khawaja’s Test teammate, Marnus Labuschagne, said the veteran was at a “a different stage in his career” and his move had to be supported.

“We understand if we want the best out of him he’s going to need to make sure he’s ready to go and he’s fresh so he doesn’t get himself injured,” Labuschagne said.

“He’s obviously a vital player for Australia and a really big asset for the national team, so having Uzzie back for the final it’s almost the perfect result – him having the week off and then being able to come back.

“And step up in big games which we know he can do, he’s done it many, many times before.”

Khawaja’s absence wasn’t the only talking point to come out of the final round.

South Australia had already secured hosting rights for the decider after netting six wins from the first nine games, but three other teams all had a chance to make the final going into the last game.

With just five overs to go in the final game at the WACA, Western Australia was bowled out by Victoria 35 runs short of a mammoth target set by the Vics, who themselves had lost their chance to make the final after Queensland’s batters earnt enough bonus points in their game against SA to stay in second spot.

Victoria’s win, sealed when former Test quick Peter Siddle, playing his final first-class game for his state aged 40, snared the last wicket, was their fourth for the season.

That was one more than Queensland, but the Bulls finished .27 points ahead courtesy of bonus points achieved in the final game.

Victorian skipper Will Sutherland was left frustrated by the fact more wins did not equal a place in the final.

“We’ve only got ourselves to blame, we lost a few games we know we should have won,” he said.

“But in saying that, we did win four games, and Queensland won three and they have somehow made the final. That is a little but interesting and confusing with the bonus system there.”

Queensland won all three of its matches in the second half of the season after the break for the Big Bash, rising from last into an improbable finals berth.

Khawaja didn’t play in the Bulls’ draw with WA after making himself “unavailable for selection” and was reportedly suffering from a “hamstring niggle”.

However, he is later this week set to be named in an extended Bulls squad for the decider, which starts next Wednesday at Karen Rolton Oval.

Bulls wicket-keeper Jimmy Peirson, who made a century as part of a crucial 151-run stand with Jack Wildermuth in Adelaide that delivered the vital bonus points, conceded it was a “crazy” way to move up the table.

But the availability of bonus points had been crucial in Queensland’s batting plans.

They targeted making 330 inside 100 overs of their first innings to stay in second, beating that mark in reaching 356.

“We knew what the bonus points structure looked like after the games around Australia. We knew with the Victoria-WA game, for us to stay in front if Victoria won the game we needed those bonus points from that batting innings,” Peirson said.

“We knew how the day was set up, to look to me to bat through and we knew we had power with ‘Nes’ (Michael Neser) and Jack Wildermuth behind us to come in and it just dovetailed nicely.

“I’ve never played in a season where three wins could potentially get you into a Shield final, it’s crazy to think that.”

The late surge was also not lost on Labuschagne, who returned for the final round and will now lead them into the decider.

“To be in the position we’re in now after five games with no wins, and being able to pull in three wins in the last five games and a draw, that’s a really good effort,” he said.