Usman Khawaja has been axed from Australia’s Ashes squad for the fourth Test in Manchester, where Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle are locked in a battle to claim the final spot up for grabs in Australia’s side.
The tourists have named a XII for the high-stakes clash at Old Trafford that starts on Wednesday, which comes with the five-Test series locked at 1-1.
James Pattinson has been rotated out of the attack, as expected, and will be replaced by either Starc or Siddle.
Australia have carefully managed the workload of their fast bowlers on this tour, especially Pattinson given it is the express paceman’s long-awaited international comeback after three and a half years of injury hell.
There is a three-day break between the fourth and fifth Tests, all but ensuring the attack will be changed yet again for the series finale.
Steve Smith’s return from concussion prompted coach Justin Langer and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns to drop Khawaja just two days after the veteran served as stand-in skipper for a tour game in Derby.
Marcus Harris and Matthew Wade had been the other batsmen under the pump.
But selectors want to give Harris, recalled for the third Test after Cameron Bancroft was dumped, a chance to show his opening partnership with David Warner has a future.
Wade, having scored a century in Australia’s series-opening victory, was retained after modest returns with the bat at both Lord’s and Headingley.
Khawaja, who raced the clock to prove his fitness for the first Test after suffering a hamstring injury in the World Cup, has logged scores of eight, 23, 36, two, 13 and 40 during the series.
“I actually feel really good batting, I just haven’t made any big runs lately which is obviously frustrating,” Khawaja said last week.
The 32-year-old has paid the price for failing to convert any of his starts, while the change will also ensure there is minimal reshuffling of the top six.
Marnus Labuschagne, having top-scored in three consecutive Test innings for Australia, is expected to bat at first drop this week after filling Smith’s shoes at No.4.
“I’m happy to bat anywhere, wherever I’m needed or most valuable for the team. It doesn’t really matter what time I come out to bat,” Labuschagne told AAP.
“I haven’t actually played with Steve yet, so I’m excited about that. Very happy to have someone of his calibre coming back.”
Australia XII for fourth Test: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Nick
Roar Guru
But here you are, responding. Do you need the crayons to point out the fallacy in your post just now?
Lot your Aspergers syndrome is really shining through with your vitriolic hatred for Warner. Warner is going through an extremely lean patch, no doubt, but hes still in another class compared to Khawaja. Wade deserves his spot, just had the second best first class season for anyone in 8-9 years. Your lack of comprehension is astounding, but not totally surprising considering all you do is patrol forums like this with no real purpose in life, loser.
Nick
Roar Guru
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! First over dismissal. So good. Warner is our 2nd most proven batsman, period. Don’t worry about him, he’ll make runs this test and next test. Warner HAS ALWAYS come good. You know jack s.hit. Come back to reality. He is a freaking horrific away test player.
Nick
Roar Guru
I don't need to make assumptions about you. It's in your words. This fervent belief he'll lead Australia to glory despite there being zero evidence or historical precedent that he has in the past. No doubt Khawaja was in decline, but so is Warner. Who would I use to replace him? Easy...Joe Burns. Wade deserves his spot because of weight of runs...you do listen to the hypocrisy in that statement, right? If that is the case - and it is, why then, does David Warner deserve his spot? He's actually been outscored by Khawaja this series. Warner has scored 79 runs, Khawaja has scored 122. Surely "weight of runs" would apply to Khawaja over Warner? Why does Warner deserve his spot? Go on...show me some stats. Is it the test century he's never scored in the UK? Is it that sparking Chris Martin-esque batting average when away from his home town bully tracks? Is it his unique ability to block out the swinging dukes ball, making it safe for 1st drop to come in after 15 overs?
Lol sure buddy I 'worship' him. Keep making assumptions about me even though you have no clue. Warner is our 2nd most proven batsman, period. Literally no one else even comes close. Khawaja has been in decline for a while and was never good away from home. Bancroft is a flop, Harris is still very unproven. Labuschagne looks good but not enough tests to cement himself. Wade deserves his spot because of weight of runs. So who else would you suggest genius?
just another Paul
Roar Rookie
Must have been a very close call between him and Harris. I don't see Harris as a decent test opener. Man I hope he proves me wrong in this test though.
Nick
Roar Guru
An embarrassing 28.5 from 17 tests with 2 centuries against Bangladesh. That's since 2016.
Nick
Roar Guru
Are you his brother? He’s averaged 41 in the past 3 years…which is ok. Sure. break that down further and he averages 28.5 away…over 17 tests. And that average is propped up by two (admittedly good) centuries in Bangladesh. Take those away and he has an average of 22.5 in his last 15 away tests. You are putting unshakable faith in someone with that type of away record? A series on the line and you advocate picking a man with a mid 20’s away average? But, yeah…keep deluding yourself that Warner “has always come good”. Do you want to know when he comes good? Surprise, surprise…at the Gabba in November. Set your watch to it. I don’t worry about him, cause I don’t care about him. You on the other hand seem to drink the kool aid and worship him. “Krusty is coming. Krusty is coming. Krusty is coming…” Australia’s second best player is a bowler. As is the 3rd and 4th best. Warner is at best, the 5th best player in the team. Lyon, Cummins and Hazlewood are significantly more valuable to the Australian team than Warner.
He's averaging 38 over two years because he's just had 3 poor games. That's it. Take out those games and his average spikes back up to about 42-43. And remember he's our second best player, an opener and a massively aggressive one at that. The fact that he has a career average of 47 is remarkable. Don't worry about him, he'll make runs this test and next test. You back your best players through their hardest times and they reward you in the long run. Warner HAS ALWAYS come good. He's only 32, still got years left in him.
anon
Roar Pro
Our quicks bowl on dead wickets every summer.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
anon, Check bowling averages Best Bumrah 19.24, Cummins 21.48, both very good. Spinners Jadeja 23.89, Lyon32.22, speaks for itself. Next Shami 28.84, our rotating bowlers,Pattinson 26.64, Siddle 32.22, Starc 28.2, Hazelwood 26.52, all about even. Our bowlers best on the planet, you must be living in another universe. And I daresay having not checked their averages that Broad, Anderson (when fit ), Woakes, Archer ( on potential), and Stokes are at least equal to are better than us. Having I believe only one score over 300 in this series proves that point.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Outed Rooted
Jason
Roar Rookie
Yes yes, Aussies are the best everyone else is trash. Anon, you speak rubbish. Starc and Hazelwood , for whatever reason have both been down on form. ( Hazelwood has since turned that around ) The Indian attack has easily been superior. IF, our attack all perform to the optimum , yes we have a very good attack. But please, "best on the planet" a little over excited I think :laughing:
matth
Roar Guru
Woakes has been dropped for Overton, so it does look like Woakes is on the outer.
anon
Roar Pro
Our quicks of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc are best on the planet. Which makes me wonder why the little bloke coaching for us took until the 4th Test to pick all three. I said by the 5th Test he will have reverted to the bowling line up he should have had all along and I was right (again).
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
anon, I said the WI were not that good. Do you dispute India are the best team an the world and that their attack is worse than ours?.
matth
Roar Guru
I’d say that was the thinking
anon
Roar Pro
The Windies don't deserve Test status at this point. They're a joke.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
anon, If we had Smith and Warner for those Tests things may have been different. They had Kohli and Pujara who batted brilliantly. Also if you think a bowling attack of Bumrah, Sharma, Shami, Jadeja etc, and they are worse than Australia I think you are mistaken. Those bowlers have just destroyed WI for 117 and 210, winning the test series in the West Indies 2 nil. Maybe WI not too good, but India clearly rated the best team in the world as of now. To lose 2-1 to that team was an honourable effort.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Not in the first 2 tests.....had to wait 3 tests to see anything positive from Warner. Ironically - we've got so many lefties - perhaps (a little left field here) Aaron Finch as a right hander (who'd managed 100s in the WC) would've been as good as anyone. Interesting Smith and Labuschagne as RHB's are the most successful and yet Bancroft is on the outer now as we go in with 2 LHB openers.