Usman Khawaja, Steven O' Keefe included in Australian squad for the last two Tests

The Cricket Australia Selection panel has named 13 and 14-man squads for the MCG and SCG Tests respectively. Australia have named a 13-man squad for the Boxing Day Test with injured batsman Usman Khawaja set to return to the playing group. NSW Blues left-arm orthodox spinner Stephen O’Keefe will also join the team in Sydney as part of a 14-man squad for the New Year’s Test at the SCG.

The 28-year-old Pakistan-born left-hander will have two matches for Sydney Thunder in the KFC Big Bash League during the two-week break ahead of the Boxing Day to push his case for a recall after his replacement. The selection panel, however, will be in a dilemma to choose between Khawaja, who is coming back after an injury lay off and Shaun Marsh. Marsh made 182 in the first Test which Australia won by an innings and 212 runs against West Indies in Hobart.

The Queensland captain struck back-to-back centuries in the first two Tests of the summer against New Zealand before pulling out due to hamstring injury on day two in Perth.

“Usman will come into the 13 for the Melbourne Test match subject to fitness. That’s the big one for us,” Bupa Support Staff Head Coach Darren Lehmann told cricket.com.au’s Stumps show.

“Then (Stephen) O’Keefe will come into Sydney as well. So we’ll have 13 and 14 for the next two Test matches and then with that we’ve got to make some decisions.

“Usman’s first got to be fit. If he’s not fit he won’t play, there’s no doubt about that. We’ve got to make sure he’s playing BBL to get some sort of match fitness and see how the strain of the hamstring is and then when we get him in on the 23rd (December) we’ll have a look at him and see whether he’s available to play.

“We’ve got a dilemma. We’ve just got to pick the best team to win that particular game. If Usman is in then someone’s got to miss out. If he’s not in, then probably the same six (batsmen would play).

Australia captain Steve Smith will miss the Sydney Sixers’ opening clash against Sydney Thunder BBL 5 which is approaching in five days’ time. He aggravated a right knee and minor strain to his right hip flex or and would rest ahead of the annual Boxing Day clash.

“I’m experiencing a little bit of knee pain that I experienced before the first Test in Brisbane,” Smith said after play today. I landed on it yesterday and it sort of aggravated it a little bit, as well as a little bit of hip flexor soreness in my right leg as well. So I’m going to sit out the first two Big Bash games (for the Sixers) unfortunately.”

Smith was certain he’d fit for the Boxing Day. “(I’m in) no doubt,” Smith added. I think it’s just precautionary. I don’t think I’ll be able to go at 100 per cent, which is what you need to do in T20 cricket and I don’t want to do any further damage.”

Nathan Coulter-Nile, 12th man for the Hobart Test, will play for Perth Scorchers on December 21st at The Furnace, while Mitchell Marsh’s involvement for the reigning BBL champions is still to be confirmed.

Australia squad:

Steve Smith (C), David Warner, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Stephen O’Keefe (Sydney only), James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges.

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