Test contender Usman Khawaja will open the batting for Queensland against former side NSW in their Sheffield Shield clash, starting on Tuesday in Canberra.
The defending Shield champions have handed Khawaja the chance to show his top-order batting flexibility against the Blues’ high-quality attack after dropping opener Alex Kemp for the match at Manuka Oval.
With Rob Quiney and Ricky Ponting both under immense pressure in the Test top four, the 25-year-old and fellow left-hander Phil Hughes are only behind sidelined allrounder Shane Watson to return to the Australian side.
Khawaja is the third highest run-scorer in Shield cricket this season, scoring 430 runs in five matches at 47.77 and is coming off a superb 138 on a Bellerive greentop which paved the way for an outright win over Tasmania.
He also scored a pair of 54s in helping the Bulls to a six-wicket victory over NSW’s much vaunted bowling attack earlier this month on a tricky Allan Border Field pitch.
Queensland sit on top of the Shield table with 20 points, equal with Victoria (six matches), and can take a lead into the mid-season hiatus with their third straight six-point result.
Leg-spinner Cameron Boyce returns from a finger injury and could bowl in tandem with Nathan Hauritz as the Bulls consider gambling at the expense of allrounder Michael Neser.
That would see Queensland carry a long tail where hard-hitting paceman Ben Cutting would bat at No.8.
The Blues, in joint last place on eight points (four matches), have promoted left-arm quick Josh Lalor and spinner Adam Zampa with Test 12th man Mitchell Starc and Trent Copeland (ankle) unavailable.
Queensland: Chris Hartley (capt), Cameron Boyce, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Nathan Hauritz, Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser, Nathan Reardon, Wade Townsend (12th man to be named).
NSW: Stephen O’Keefe (capt), Doug Bollinger, David Dawson, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Scott Henry, Josh Lalor, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve Smith, Adam Zampa (12th man to be named).