Australian selectors axe Usman Khawaja for Fourth Test

Steve Smith’s return for Fourth Test means there is no room for out-of-form star in Australia’s top six.

Australian batsman Usman Khawaja (left) has been dropped, but Marcus Harris has held his position at the top of the order for the Fourth Ashes Test against England at Old Trafford. Picture: Getty Images

Usman Khawaja has been dropped from the team to play tomorrow’s fourth Test and James Pattinson left out of the bowling line up.

With Steve Smith recovered from concussion a place had to be made in the team and there had been speculation it was between Khawaja and Marcus Harris, who replaced Cameron Bancroft as opener in the third Test.

Australia named a XII last night with selectors yet to decide on the three seamers with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc all named.

Starc has not played a Test in the series but his bowling is suited to Old Trafford where the pitch is traditionally fast, dry and conducive to reverse swing.

Dropped ... Usman Khawaja. Picture: Getty Images

Khawaja, a veteran of 44 Tests, has averaged 20 in the series and 35 in the past two years.

Pattinson’s exclusion continues the pattern that has seen bowlers rotated for every Test.

Australia must decide on a new No.3 and will probably opt for Marnus Labuschagne who has scored three consecutive half centuries and is averaging 70 since coming in as a concussion replacement for Smith at Lord’s.

England has shuffled the side’s batting line up, moving no.4 Joe Denly up to the opening position, swapping with the struggling Jason Roy who has scored 62 runs in six innings this series.

The Australians have had to regroup after allowing England to level the series after an incredible come from behind win in the third Test at Headingley.

Coach Justin Langer believed the team had handled the result well.

“It’s always been a very strong philosophy of mine that we stick together as a team and we’ve talked about that for a long time,” he said.

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc bowls in the nets at Old Trafford ahead of the Fourth Test. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve talked about that through my whole tenure as a coach. I’ve talked about it as a player as well. It’s a very individual game, cricket. But what you can control is the team.

“After what happened in the last Test match, it was important for us to stick together. And we’ve done it really well. I’m very proud of how the boys have gone about their preparation this week.

“They’re up and about. You can see the energy again. They’ve been like that throughout the whole series. And we’ve received some really tough knocks in the last Test match. The boys have taken them on the chin and they’re back into it.

“I couldn’t have asked for more than that at this stage. Now to put that preparation and camaraderie into work in the Test match.”

AUSTRALIAN XII: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.