Before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, Usman Khawaja sat down for an interview with ABC Sport at a Cricket Australia content day.

“Is this the last summer for Usman Khawaja?” a reporter asked Australia’s opening batsman.

“Shit, you’ve come out hard, haven’t you?” Khawaja said. “Why didn’t anyone ask me this 10 years ago?”

It was put to Khawaja that, “Well, you turn 38 in December”.

Having set the reporter up beautifully, Khawaja put away a half-volley to the boundary.

“Oh, so you’re being ageist!” Khawaja said with a grin. “I’m just enjoying it. Look at this face. It’s still fresh.”

If the Gabba Test makes it to a fifth day, on Wednesday, Khawaja will celebrate his birthday in front of his adopted home crowd.

To casual observers, 38 may seem like just another birthday, but cricket fans know it’s not an age usually associated with a Test player.

Read the rest of Tom Decent’s story here.