Khawaja to lead Chairman’s XI v Sri Lanka

Saturday, 1 December 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Queensland batsman Usman Khawaja will have the chance to strengthen his case for test selection when he captains the Chairman’s XI in next week’s three-day tour match against Sri Lanka in Canberra.

Khawaja, one of the leading contenders to be Ricky Ponting’s long-term replacement, will be looking for a big score against the tourists before the first test starts in Hobart on 14 December.

He will lead a Chairman’s XI team featuring some of the nation’s most promising batting talent in the clash that runs 6-8 December at Manuka Oval.

“Usman Khawaja has been nominated as captain. He, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Doolan and Scott Henry have been released from their BBL franchises to take this opportunity to further their experience in the longer form of the game,” chief selector John Inverarity said in a statement.

“They are players who have shown some excellent form in recent months and will be looking to enhance their claims for higher honours.”

Khawaja could only muster a duck and eight in this week’s Sheffield Shield clash on the traditionally batter-friendly wicket at Manuka Oval.

But Bulls coach Darren Lehmann had no doubt his young charge could step up when needed.

“I think he’s in the best six (batsmen) in the country,” Lehmann said after play on Thursday.

“But that’s my personal opinion. I’m not a selector.

“I think if they gave him a chance and let him have a good run at it he’d be fine, but again that’s the selectors’ call.

“Obviously he’s missed out here ... but he’s in good form.”

Victorian Rob Quiney and South Australia’s Phil Hughes, the other frontrunners to take Ponting’s place in the Test side, were not selected.

Hughes (518 runs), Callum Ferguson (463) and Khawaja (438) currently top the Shield run-scoring list.

Instead of putting Hughes and Ferguson under the microscope, Inverarity will instead use the tour game to further examine some of the nation’s untried batsmen.

“Scott Henry, Marcus Harris, Travis Head and Sam Whiteman are young left-handed batsmen,” Inverarity said.

“Each has produced at least one outstanding first-class innings recently and Whiteman will be given an opportunity to display his skills as an accomplished wicket-keeper.”

Chairman’s XI: Usman Khawaja (capt), Luke Butterworth, Alex Doolan, Matthew Gale, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Scott Henry, Glenn Maxwell, Chadd Sayers, Dean Solway, Ashton Turner and Sam Whiteman.