Moises Henriques has started the Big Bash League season with a bang but says his fall down the Test pecking order hasn't provided any motivation.
The Sydney Sixers skipper hit 73 from 48 balls against the Hobart Hurricanes on Wednesday, helping his side recover from 5-39 to secure a 14-run win.
Henriques' knock came after an unbeaten 76 from just 38 balls three days earlier in the Sixers' record-breaking win over the Stars in the tournament opener.
The 34-year-old was part of a 19-strong group set to tour South Africa earlier this year but was left out of Australia's Test squad and extended Australia A squad named last month.
Henriques has previously said he doesn't agree with the logic of the decision but noted he has a lot of respect for selector George Bailey and the way he communicates with players.
"I don't use any external factors as motivation," he said after the Sixers' second win from as many matches.
"I have a great relationship with George. I understand the decision. I don't have to agree with it but I understand it.
"I feel like I'm playing as well as I ever have. I would have loved an opportunity to obviously play, or at the very least, be a part of the squad considering I was in the last squad that was selected.
"I'm not bitter about it at all. I won't be using that as motivation for anything.
"My job as a cricketer isn't to select teams, it's to do as well as I can and try and score as many runs as I can and take as many wickets as I can.
"It's as simple as that for me. Just to keep learning and getting better, that's the only motivation I take out."
Henriques, whose last of four Test matches came in 2016, shared a crucial 62-run partnership with Tom Curran as the Sixers bounced back from an early collapse to post 9-144.
Hobart required 23 off the final 12 balls but Sydney's England import Chris Jordan bowled an ice-cool second-last over, conceding just three.
"(We have) got a very experienced bowling attack that I'm obviously very confident in," Henriques said.
"For us to come up trumps in a close game, (it) is a really important win at this stage of the season."
Australian Associated Press
