Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed failed to put his Ashes squad selection beyond doubt with an up-and-down performance on a generally disappointing day two for Australia A against Gloucestershire.

The Australian brains trust, minus captain Michael Clarke, convened at the county ground in Bristol on Saturday, with recent headaches only added to by an Australia A batting collapse in the second innings where they were rolled for 111.

Coach Mickey Arthur, selection chief John Inverarity, selector Rod Marsh and general manager of team performance Pat Howard were all present for the second day of the three-day match.

The handover from Australia A coaches Troy Cooley and Darren Lehmann is currently underway and Ashes players like Brad Haddin and Ed Cowan held meetings with those in charge of the team.

The Ashes squad officially gathers on Monday at Taunton in Somerset.

As well as Australia’s frailties with the bat, Ahmed’s place in the Ashes picture is another cause for debate.

It’s expected Ahmed will get Australian citizenship in the coming days and be added to the available talent pool, possibly before the first official tour game against Somerset starts on Wednesday.

Although the Pakistan-born asylum seeker’s inclusion is still a strong possibility, selectors would have been hoping to be impressed by better performances by Ahmed in his two matches for Australia A.

He looked dangerous on Saturday morning, taking a wicket and narrowly missing a couple of other chances as Australia A bowled Gloucestershire out for 122 in the first session, having themselves declared at 4-331 on Friday.

However, thrown the ball after Australia A’s second innings collapse, Ahmed struggled for figures of 0-62 from 14 overs.

South Australian Dan Christian, who is playing for Gloucestershire, smashed 35 runs from the 31 balls he faced from Ahmed – including three sixes and four fours.

On day two, Australia A went from a match-winning position to one of great vulnerability with Usman Khawaja (6) and Phil Hughes (11) failing to take advantage of being promoted to open the second innings.

Gloucestershire were 3-162 at stumps on Saturday, requiring 159 with seven wickets in hand to win on the final day.