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Lehmann picks his team to tackle India

Victorian Marcus Harris should be rewarded for his strong Shield form with Test selection, says former Australia coach

Former national coach Darren Lehmann believes Victoria opener Marcus Harris has done enough to open for Australia in the first Domain Test against India next month.

Harris is the second leading run scorer in the JLT Sheffield Shield this season and Lehmann thinks the uncapped left-hander should be rewarded for his good form.

Lehmann likened Harris to former Australia opener and current national coach Justin Langer and thinks Adelaide Oval is the perfect venue for the 26-year-old to debut at.

"He (Harris) is the in-form player of the competition and has an outstanding record over the last two years," Lehmann said on Macquarie Sports Radio on Wednesday.

"I would have liked to have got (Matthew) Renshaw in there, but he hasn't scored enough runs."

Full highlights as Harris hammers 250 not out

Lehmann expects Usman Khawaja will bat at three - provided he has recovered from knee surgery - with Shaun Marsh (four) and Mitch Marsh (six) to retain their spots in the Test side.

Just who bats at number five for Australia in Adelaide is currently the cause for much discussion and Lehmann was non-committal on who he thinks should slot into that spot against India.

Lehmann is concerned by the possibility of having too many left handers in Australia’ top order and only wants Travis Head to bat at five if Ravi Jadeja is selected by India ahead of veteran spinner Ravi Ashwin.

"If Ashwin plays then I'm playing (Peter) Handscomb as he helps negate Ashwin," Lehmann noted.

"I would name both (Head and Handscomb) in the squad and then see how India shape up."

Just how Australia's top order shapes up will depend a lot on the fitness of Khawaja, who has not played since undergoing surgery on a torn meniscus suffered during Australia's Test series against Pakistan in October in the UAE.

Khawaja is planning on playing for Queensland in a four-day Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria at the Gabba starting on Tuesday as he looks to prove his fitness to selectors.

Khawaja silences doubters with epic Dubai century

“(My) knee is coming along well, been running for a couple of weeks now (and) batting,” Khawaja told Fox Cricket on Wednesday.

“Hopefully right for this Shield game coming up next week and then hopefully be right to be eligible to be picked for the first Test.

“I'm going to be playing this Shield game, in my head I've already decided I'm playing.”

While there is still a small question mark surrounding whether Khawaja plays in Adelaide, Lehmann believes there is no conjecture about skipper Tim Paine and the four bowlers that will be selected.

The South Australian said Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon are all easy choices for selectors to make, while he nominated Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain and Daniel Worrall as options to make the squad as a backup seamer.

"It's the toughest job selecting the first Test of the summer," Lehmann said.

"It's a really tough selection and there is really no right or wrong answer.

"But whoever we pick we have to back 100 per cent."

The opening Test between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval starts December 6.

India Tour of Australia 2018-19

Gillette T20s v India

First T20: November 21, the Gabba

Second T20: November 23, MCG

Third T20: November 25, SCG

Domain Tests v India

First Test: December 6-10, Adelaide Oval

Second Test: December 14-18, Perth Stadium

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 3-7, SCG

Gillette ODI Series v India

First ODI: January 12, SCG (D/N)

Second ODI: January 15, Adelaide Oval (D/N)

Third ODI: January 18, MCG (D/N)