Khawaja, Burns snubbed by Aussie selectors

Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns have missed out on Australia’s ODI squad for New Zealand in the most inexplicable selection decision of the summer. Twelve hours before the squad announcement, Australian selector Mark Waugh labelled Khawaja “the most in-form player” in world cricket, declaring that not even Brian Lara in his prime would be capable of batting as well as the talented left-hander is at the present moment.

But apparently eight consecutive scores of 50 or higher this summer, and five centuries since October is not good enough to get Khawaja – nominated as the best batsman in Australia by Ricky Ponting – into the ODI team. The stylish right-handed Burns has been in good form in the Big Bash League and Test cricket, however, was ignored by the ODI world champions who have a settled batting order in the format.

Despite his stunning run of form in the Big Bash League following on from a breakout Test summer, Khawaja remained surplus to a settled ODI batting line-up, as the captain Steven Smith had predicted. The likes of Aaron Finch and George Bailey are a long way from Test calculation but have done nothing to deserve omission from the 50-over team. However, Khawaja and Burns will be expected to make the Trans-Tasman adjustments from home, playing for Queensland.

The one change selectors have made to their one-day squad to face New Zealand starting on February 3 is to drop spinner Nathan Lyon and call up impressive rookie Adam Zampa. The young leg-spinner was on the losing side for the Melbourne Stars on Sunday night, but has had an excellent Big Bash and is a major contender for World Twenty20 selection. Lyon will instead play in the Sheffield Shield match being played between New South Wales and Western Australia at New Zealand Cricket headquarters in Lincoln near Christchurch.

The skipper Smith and his deputy David Warner will be leaving Australia on Saturday in order to prepare in advance for New Zealand, having been rested from the latter two T20 internationals against India that follow Tuesday’s opening match on Australia Day in Adelaide.

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, George Bailey, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.