In-form Test batsman Usman Khawaja has been named in the Queensland side for next week's Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.
Controversially overlooked in both Australian limited-overs squads, Khawaja will skipper the Bulls at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday while the national one-day team take on New Zealand at Eden Park on the same day.
The 29-year-old has scored six centuries and three 50s from his past 12 innings in all forms of the game and is arguably the world's most in-form batsman, yet wasn't picked in the one-day or Twenty20 squads in a move that has mystified Australian cricketing luminaries.
Khawaja will use the Shield match as preparation for next month's two-Test tour of New Zealand, along with fellow Test batsman Joe Burns, who has also been named for Queensland.
The pair will be joined by Chris Lynn, the freshly crowned Big Bash League player of the year, who will make his first Bulls appearance this season after missing the first half due to a shoulder injury.
Also included in the Queensland squad is allrounder Michael Neser, who played in the BBL for the Adelaide Strikers, and paceman Peter George.
Marnus Labuschagne, Scott Henry and Mark Steketee have been omitted while Ben Cutting (hip) and Nathan Reardon (finger) are unavailable.
The Bulls are in fifth spot, with two wins and three losses, and need maximum points from the clash with the Redbacks to build momentum for the Shield final in March.
Queensland: Usman Khawaja (capt), Joe Burns, Jason Floros, Peter George, Chris Hartley (wk), Sam Heazlett, James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Mitch Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.
Share
