Usman Khawaja and Alex Doolan not only missed out on selection on Thursday in Australia’s 12-man squad for the Bellerive Test, they also squandered golden opportunities to remind selectors of their talents.
The pair, overlooked as the replacement for retired Test great Ricky Ponting in favour of Phil Hughes, had runs on the mind when they took the crease for the Chairman’s XI in the tour match against Sri Lanka.
But by tea, both were back sitting in the stands of Canberra’s Manuka Oval with Khawaja dismissed for 56 and Doolan out for just six and the hosts on 3-193.
Khawaja looked in sparkling touch before he found Mahela Jayawardene at short midwicket while trying to whip Chanaka Welegedara (1-42) through the leg side.
For a brief spell, Khawaja’s aggressive batting overshadowed the brilliant century being compiled by Scott Henry at the other end.
Henry went to tea unbeaten on 107, looking all too comfortable against an understrength Sri Lankan attack that had rested star spinner Rangana Herath and top quick Nuwan Kulasekara.
Strongly tipped at the start of the day to miss out on a Test recall, Khawaja batted with a point to prove from his very first ball on Thursday.
Intent on protecting his wicket, the 25-year-old stonewalled the attack by crawling to 10 from his first 57 deliveries, before taking out his frustrations on the tourists’ No.2 spinner Suraj Randiv.
The stylish left-hander hammered 24 runs from two Randiv overs, including two massive sixes over long-on as he raced from 15 to 39 in quick time.
Khawaja’s exit ended a 123-run partnership for the second wicket with Henry, who has treated the Sri Lankan attack with contempt.
The NSW youngster plundered 14 fours and two big sixes before tea in an impressive knock which continues his solid Sheffield Shield form this season.
The 23-year-old, who hit a pair of half-centuries against Victoria a fortnight ago, brought up his century off 154 balls with a classical cover drive.
Randiv fought back from the Khawaja onslaught to bowl Doolan with the last ball before tea.
Shaminda Eranga has been the pick of the bowlers with 1-15 off 10 overs.