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Ashes 2019: Australia reshapes squad as Smith and Starc return, Usman Khawaja dropped
With series tied at 1-1 Australia will look to retain the Ashes by winning the Manchester Test.
Australia have not included left-handed batsman Usman Khawaja in the 12-man squad for the fourth Ashes Test against England beginning Wednesday at the Old Trafford. Right-arm pacer James Pattinson has been rested while Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc have been named in the squad. It means four fast bowlers -- Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Starc and Siddle -- will be fighting it out for three spots, with the pitch and conditions at Old Trafford set to determine the final XI.
Khawaja has averaged 20.33 in six innings he played in the series so far, with four scores between 13 and 40. It is almost two years to the day since the last time the left-handed batter was dropped from the Test side for the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong, reports cricket.com.au.
Marnus Labuschagne will bat at No. 3 while Steve Smith will slot back at No. 4 as Australia look to retain the Ashes in Manchester. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh, however, finds himself out of favour once again despite his good all-round show against Derbyshire.
Paceman James Pattinson has been dropped, paving the way for Mitchell Starc's recall after his seven-wicket haul in the tour match against Derbyshire. Starc, the top wicket-taker with 27 victims at the recent one-day World Cup in England, is expected to vie with Peter Siddle for the third seamer spot, with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood expected to be retained at Old Trafford.
Marcus Harris, who replaced out-of-form opener Cameron Bancroft for the third Test, has also been retained and given another chance to cement his place at the top of the order with David Warner after he managed eight and 19 at Headingley.
