Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns are 'unlucky', says coach Darren Lehmann
Australian batsmen Usman Khwaja and Joe Burns have been dropped from the Australian side for their third and final Test match against Sri Lanka. Having already lost the series 2-0, the baggy greens would be eager to win the last encounter to keep their hopes alive of retaining the No.1 rank in Tests.
Former Australian player and current coach Darren Lehmann said that both the players were ‘unlucky’ to have been missing out the 3rd Test. A unanimous decision regarding the matter was taken by Lehmann and Australia’s selector Rod Marsh which paved the way for Shaun Marsh and New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques in the playing XI.
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Australian coach feels that the changes were made according to the conditions of Sri Lanka and their lack of form in the Asian island.
“We haven't had the results we would have liked here in Sri Lanka. We've picked a squad we think can play in these conditions. Shaun and 'Mo' are very good players of spin bowling. So they come into the side at the expense of Joe who's unlucky and 'Uz' who's unlucky.” said Lehmann
Southpaw Shaun Marsh’s last Test was memorable for him as he scored a career best of 182 runs against the West Indies last year in Hobart. Meanwhile, Moises Henriques will be playing his fourth Test match; the last Test match he featured in was back in 2013 during their visit to India.
Outgoing players Khawaja and Burns were selected as a part of the Aussies team for the Test series against New Zealand where both of them scripted their maiden centuries. Since then, they have performed consistently but have failed to make a mark in the on-going tour.
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Lehmann feels that the pitch on which the third Test is going to be played is quite dry compared to the previous ones and is hopeful that the changes made is fruitful. According to cricket.com.au, he said, "It's a tough call on those two younger guys but it's only for this Test match. We'll have a look going forward at home. It's different conditions.”
"The way the wicket is, it's very dry, probably drier than the previous two. Let's see how they play and hopefully it's a good Test match” he added.
The first two matches have proved that the pitches are spinner friendly and Rangana Herath has taken full advantage of the situation. It will be interesting to see how Australia react in the third Test with a 2-0 deficit.