Australian top-order batsman Usman Khawaja has played six Tests and 42 first class games, but was dropped from the national team to find form before the current series against India following a string of disappointing innings.

And find form he did when he smashed a century for NSW Second XI against the ACT during the first innings of a three-day match at Chisolm Oval in Canberra on Monday.

Khawaja put his hand up for the game in order to spend time at the crease in his bid for a Test recall, and notched 134 runs off 177 balls to signal his intent.

Bloomfield not only saw the number three bat in action, but got the chance to bowl to Khawaja, spearheading the ACT attack.

The 19-year-old paceman yesterday revealed he was thrilled just to be part of the action.

“Khawaja batted great, he didn’t give a chance until we got him out,” Bloomfield said yesterday morning before taking to the field for day two.

“It was a pretty flat pitch and it was a bit of a step down for those guys who have played Test cricket, but it was good to watch.

“It’s good cricket, there’s not much room to move.”

Bloomfield was selected to represent ACT against NSW Second XI following an impressive performance against Tasmania last week, playing for ACT Comets in the Futures League.

He bowled tight against Tasmania – only going for 39 runs over the two innings – but failed to take a wicket.

Bloomfield had better luck with the ball on Monday,

taking 1-51 off 11 overs and snaring the prize wicket of former Tasmanian keeper-batsman David Dawson.

The Second XI finished the first day’s play at 7-389.

“All the quick bowlers bowled pretty short spells, but I got a fair bit of a crack which was good,” he said.

“I wasn’t really happy with how I bowled.

“I sort of bowled one bad ball every over, and if you do that against these guys they just put you away.”

The ACT team is made up of Futures League players and a handful of Canberra’s young talent waiting to break into the representative league.

The three-day match will wrap up today before Bloomfield takes to the field for a one-day game, again against NSW Second XI tomorrow.

He will play his next Futures League match in two weeks’ time.