'No one's done anything wrong': Trevor Hohns on the omission of Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns has defended the decision to leave Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson out of the Australians’ 17-man Ashes squad.

Burns and Patterson both made their case for an Ashes appearance, scoring centuries against Sri Lanka in Australia’s most recent Test in February.

However months later, the duo has sensationally been unable to find a spot in the extended squad.

Hohns said the return of David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft from their bans over the sandpaper scandal ensured there would be a squeeze on spots left available.

And while he agreed Burns and Patterson were unlucky, Hohns argued the form of Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Harris was too hard to overlook.

Burns had battled post-viral fatigue which forced him to leave Lancashire, whom he had been playing county cricket for, to return to Australia in May.

He joined the Australia A squad in July and struck a century against Sussex, before struggling against the England Lions and in the Australians’ intra-squad match.

Patterson meanwhile has managed to score just 100 runs at an average of 20 in seven innings away from home throughout the build-up to the Ashes.