Usman Khawaja has failed to press his claims for a recall to the Australian side in the Sheffield Shield, while another Ashes hopeful put his hand up to be selected in the squad.
With the Ashes just three weeks away, every innings is crucial, with at least one spot in the Australian line-up still up for grabs.
Those that don’t earn a game in the starting eleven will still be hoping to make the initial squad.
Chairman of selectors George Bailey recently all but guaranteed Victorian Marcus Harris would be given the first shot to open the batting for Australia, however the number five spot is still hotly contested.
While Khawaja made 70 runs in the first innings against Western Australia in the Shield, he was dismissed for eight in his second knock on Friday, caught at first slip off the bowling of Cameron Gannon.
Cameron Green, who many have pencilled in to hold his spot at no.6 in the Australian line-up, also got out cheap in the second innings after a fifty in the first.
He was bowled for 15 after shouldering arms to Australian teammate Marnus Labuschagne, who – despite bowling leg-spin when called upon in the national side – appeared to be bowling quicker off a longer run-up.
Get the feeling Cameron Green is going to be hearing absolutely heaps from Marnus about this one all summer long #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/6BHAg7MVmF
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 13, 2021
Western Australia’s Jye Richardson took five wickets on Friday to press his claims for the squad, including the wicket of Labuschagne caught behind.
Khawaja’s next opportunity will come on November 15 in a Marsh One-Day game between Queensland and Western Australia.