Langer stunned by Bancroft omission

Test legend Justin Langer said he was shocked Cameron Bancroft was left out of Australia's squad for the first Commonwealth Bank Test against New Zealand.

The uncapped opener was one of the favourites to partner David Warner in Australia's first Test since the retirement of Chris Rogers, but that job was instead handed to Queensland's Joe Burns.

Langer, Bancroft's coach at Western Australia, will be able to call on the 22-year-old for WA's Shield clash against South Australia, starting on Friday.

The former Test opener is stunned that his young charge will be with him in Adelaide and not in Brisbane with Australia's Test side.

"I thought Bancroft was an absolute shoo-in. I thought 100 per cent he was going to open the first Test match," Langer said of Bancroft, who could only manage scores of 10 and 15 in last week's Shield win over Tasmania.

"The opportunity was so close. I think maybe he tried too hard and tensed up a little bit.

"That's so natural. Now it's just a matter of getting back to what's worked so well for him in the last 12 months.

"If he just relaxes and plays, he'll score runs. If he scores runs, he'll get selected."

WATCH: Bancroft slams a century in India for Australia A

Langer also threw his support behind Shaun Marsh and said it was "rubbish" to suggest the 32-year-old's Test career was over.

The left-hander played five of Australia's six Tests leading into the Ashes series this year as an injury replacement for first Michael Clarke then Chris Rogers before being left out for all but one of the showdowns against England.

Having managed just two runs across both innings in Australia's loss at Trent Bridge, Marsh was included in the Australia squad for the postponed tour of Bangladesh but left out of the 12-man squad for the opening Test against the Black Caps this week.

"People say it's the end of his career. I think it's rubbish," Langer said on Tuesday.

"Shaun's still got a lot of cricket left in him. He's batting as well as he's batted since I've seen him play as a kid. Hopefully this will keep him hungry.

"He got 99 last Boxing Day Test. He played really well in the West Indies. He’s up and down in the order as well.  The fact there’s so much speculation about the team goes to show there’ll be a lot of opportunities."

With regular WA captain Adam Voges away on Test duty, Marsh will captain the Warriors against the Redbacks this weekend.

WATCH: Shaun Marsh makes 99 in Boxing Day Test