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Khawaja axed as Tigers bat first in second Test

Queensland captain makes way for Cartwright as O'Keefe returns for injured Hazlewood

Usman Khawaja has paid a heavy price for his twin failures in the first Test, with the left-hander dropped for Australia's must-win second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.  

After Australia captain Steve Smith lost the toss and was asked to field first, he confirmed Khawaja's axing in place of WA allrounder Hilton Cartwright.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O'Keefe also comes into the XI, with Australia opting for a three-man spin attack after Josh Hazlewood was injured in Dhaka. 

Bangladesh have made one change from their winning team, bringing in an extra batsman Mominul Haque for paceman Shafiul Islam.

Australia XI: David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Steve O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon

Bangladesh XI: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (c/wk), Mominal Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

"We have selected a team for this Test based on playing the conditions we are faced with in Chittagong," said selector Trevor Hohns.

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"The inclusion of Cartwright is warranted, he brings solid batting to the side and also gives the captain an extra medium pace option due to Pat Cummins being the only fast-bowler in the XI."

It is the first time Australia have gone into a Test match with just one paceman in 40 years, with lone quick Pat Cummins to be provided seam support in Cartwright. 

The most recent occasion Australia fielded just one recognised quick came in Jamaica during their politically charged Caribbean tour of 1978 when, at the height of the World Series Cricket fracture, they went into the final Test at Sabina Park with batting allrounder Trevor Laughlin (father of Adelaide Strikers bowler, Ben) as Jeff Thomson's new-ball partner.

With Cartwright presenting a bowling option, Khawaja's aggregate of two in the first Test, alongside his Test average on subcontinental pitches of 14.62, always appeared likely to make him vulnerable, and his omission will see Smith – who scored three centuries and averaged 71 batting at number three in India earlier this year – reinstated at first drop.

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Khawaja's axing - his second on the subcontinent in a little over 12 months after he was left out for the third Test in Sri Lanka last year - is likely to draw some criticism, with Test great Mike Hussey going into bat for the 30-year-old after his Dhaka disaster. 

"You shouldn't be judging someone on a couple of innings, and in one of those innings he was run-out," Hussey told cricket.com.au's The Unplayable Podcast

"He hasn't played any cricket for so long, so it's going to take time for him to get back in and get up to speed with that match hardness.

"I know there's going to be the doubters out there but (Khawaja is) a quality player," Hussey said. "He's class, and if you show the faith, show that you believe in him, you'll get the best out of him ... just show that believe and faith in him and he will repay it in spades, I promise you."

Tamim gets a life before Lyon strikes on day one

Meanwhile, O'Keefe's recall completes a stunning turnaround for the NSW spinner, who is suspended for the upcoming JLT One-Day Domestic Cup in October after an alcohol-related incident at a Cricket New South Wales function earlier this year. 

The 32-year-old wasn't awarded a Cricket Australia contract this financial year, and was overlooked for the original touring party to Bangladesh, while Victorian left-arm spinner Jon Holland was selected for Australia's intra-squad warm-up fixture in Darwin last month - their final preparation for this Test series.

There had also been some speculation surrounding the place of wicketkeeper Matthew Wade in the XI, after twin failures with the bat and the conceding of 30 byes in Dhaka. 

But the new Tasmania recruit retains his spot, with back-up gloveman Peter Handscomb able to shift his full attention towards batting. 

Australia in Bangladesh 2017

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade.

Bangladesh squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Mominul Haque.


27-31 August First Test, Dhaka, Bangladesh won by 20 runs


4-8 September Second Test, Chittagong