SYDNEY: Struggling batsman Usman Khawaja has the chance to win back his place in Australia’s Test lineup after being named on Tuesday in an Australia ‘A’ team to play Pakistan in a three-day tour match next month.

Khawaja, who was dropped after the third Ashes Test in England in August, has been named beside Test hopefuls Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Will Pucovski and Nic Maddinson for the day-night match at Perth Stadium from Nov 11.

The match offers players a last chance to impress selectors before the first Test against Pakistan which starts at Brisbane’s Gabba ground on Nov 21.

The Pakistan-born Khawaja made 122 runs at an average of 20.3 in the first three Tests of the Ashes series before being dropped for the fourth.

He recovered some form in the domestic Marsh Cup one-day series this season with back-to-back centuries for Queensland against Victoria.

Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann has been among those backing Khawaja’s recall, citing his excellent Test record in Australia.

“If you look at his record in Australia on its own it is outstanding,” Lehmann told Fairfax Media. “He had to come back and make runs and he has done that in his first two games in the Marsh Cup, has made very good hundreds for Queensland.

“Again, it will get down to [Sheffield] Shield performances I suppose but if you look at horses for courses in Australia, he has been very good.”

Harris is the incumbent Test opener and likely to retain his place but two places appear to remain open in the Australia batting lineup; another opener and No. 6. Mitch Marsh left the No. 6 spot vacant when he injured his hand punching a wall after his dismissal in a Shield match earlier this month.

Pucovski has a chance to seal the spot after narrowly missing out on a Test debut against Sri Lanka last summer.

Head, who was vice-captain during the Ashes series, has also batted at No. 6 but has yet to find form in the domestic first class competition. He was overlooked for the captaincy of the Australia ‘A’ team in favour of wicket-keeper Alex Carey.

Maddinson is seen as an outsider for Test selection.

“Will Pucovski and Nic Maddinson have started the season strongly for Victoria and we’re looking forward to giving them an opportunity to perform against a quality international team,” national selector Trevor Hohns said. “Both are exciting batsmen whom we’ve had our eye on for some time.

Joe Burns, who was controversially left out of the Ashes squad, will join Harris at the top of the order with Khawaja, Head, Maddinson and Pucovski rounding out the top six.

“We will closely monitor performances in this match as well as the coming rounds of the Sheffield Shield before deciding upon our squad for the two-Test series against Pakistan,” national selector Trevor Hohns said.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting recently declared Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and, despite his poor Ashes form, David Warner the only sure starters for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.

Carey, who is vice-captain of Australia’s one-day and T20 teams, had a strong performance with both bat and gloves in the World Cup.

The South Australian was unlucky to miss out on an Ashes berth, with captain Tim Payne the preferred wicket-keeper and Mathew Wade as back up.

“This fixture represents an opportunity to provide Alex with more leadership experience and he will be supported by two experienced vice-captains in Usman Khawaja and Travis Head,” Hohns said.

Exciting paceman Jhye Richardson will make his comeback from a shoulder injury after missing out on the World Cup and the Ashes series.

He will be joined in the bowling attack by Michael Neser, Sean Abbott and Riley Meredith.

Squad: Alex Carey (captain), Marcus Harris, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Will Pucovski, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Sean Abbott, Riley Meredith.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2019