Khawaja backed for recall

QUEENSLAND Bulls coach Wade Seccombe has urged Australian selectors to recall Usman Khawaja to the Test arena, as his side prepares to face a gutsy Tasmanian outfit in the Sheffield Shield in Townsville from today.

Riverway Stadium could be the scene where the veteran of 44 Australian caps makes a statement for his inclusion in the forthcoming Ashes series. And he will do so in hot form.

Khawaja’s 174 against South Australia in the Bulls’ last outing sent an ominous warning to the rest of the Sheffield Shield, and to the incumbents in the baggy green ranks.

Will Pucovksi is reportedly in doubt for the first Test of the summer after a concussion, so weight of runs could force selectors’ hands and earn Khawaja a recall.

And despite coming in at number four for Queensland, Seccombe backed his skipper in make an impression in the North and argued the position should be his for the taking.

“He’s got to be in the mix for the Ashes, in my mind he should be in the side but that’s for other people to decide,” Seccombe said.

“He’ll just continue to lead from the front, he does that as a captain but also a batsman.

“I don’t think they (the selectors) would have a problem where they pick him to play. They know he can bat at the top order, and there’s probably also an opportunity at five.

“There’s one of two spots that he could fill, so I think the fact he bats four for us shouldn’t be a factor in whether he should open the batting for Australia.”