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Pattinson, Khawaja return for Marsh Cup clashes

Victorian named for his first one-day game at home in four years, while Bulls welcome back their captain

Two of Australia's Ashes tourists will return to state ranks in Melbourne this weekend, with James Pattinson in line to play his first domestic 50-over game on home soil in four years when Victoria host the Usman Khawaja-led Queensland.

The inclusions of Pattinson and Khawaja sets up a tantalising battle in back-to-back Marsh One-Day Cup clashes between the Vics and the Bulls on Sunday and Tuesday, both at St Kilda's CitiPower Centre.

Pattinson has played List A games for county side Nottinghamshire in recent years, but hasn't featured in a one-dayer for his home state since blitzing the 2015-16 competition with 14 wickets at 19.

The right-armer impressed in two Tests during the recent Ashes campaign, helping the visitors retain the urn with a 2-2 series draw, and has now set his sights on consistently representing Australia in all formats. 

Khawaja's return for the ladder-leading Queenslanders meanwhile creates a selection squeeze at the top of the order as the Bulls seek to maintain their unbeaten Marsh Cup run.

Match Wrap: Queensland too strong for South Australia

The left-hander, who will take over the captaincy reins from keeper Jimmy Peirson, steadfastly refuses to look further ahead than his state's white-ball campaign and the three Marsh Sheffield Shield games at the Gabba that follow, wary of getting caught up in thoughts of resuming his spot in Australia's Test side.

Khawaja was dropped during the Ashes after three Tests at No.3, caught behind the wicket in all six innings (five of them by keeper Jonny Bairstow) with four scores between 13 and 40.

"Whether it be grade cricket, Australia, or Queensland, just concentrating on what's in front of me, doing the right thing for my team. That's how I get the best out of myself," Khawaja said on Friday.

"For me it's about keeping things really simple, I'm only concentrating on Queensland at this stage.

"First and foremost you can't look too far ahead. Yeah, there's higher honours at stake but for me it's just about concentrating on what I can do for the team."

Delighted to have been part of the first Australian team since 2001 to have retained the Ashes on English soil, Khawaja nevertheless was left bitterly disappointed to be axed.

"I felt like I was still playing pretty well at the time," he said. "I wasn't obviously getting big scores, but a couple of 50s in the tour matches and getting starts in the Test matches.

"A lot was made about (Stuart) Broad around the wicket but I didn't really get out to him around the wicket until I nicked one down leg side.

"So I felt in a good place but disappointed to not play, but by same token I wasn't going to drag any of my teammates down by me feeling disappointed, I still wanted the guys to win.

"I copped it on the chin, didn't say too much, just got my head down and got on with it."

Tasmania lose 6-12 in epic collapse

With scrutiny on Australia's Test top order for the opening Domain Test against Pakistan set to intensify, Khawaja will not make a play to switch to opening with Queensland, with fellow Test hopefuls Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns to continue to open in the four-day Sheffield Shield.

"To be honest, half the time you're out there in first five to 10 overs anyway," Khawaja said when quizzed on any ambitions to open the batting. "In England I was in in first five overs anyway. As a No.3 that's part and parcel of it.

"But I'll bat anywhere for Australia and I've always told the selectors that, but I've got to get my head down and score runs for Queensland first.

"If I'm not helping them win cricket games the rest won't happen. Like anyone else at domestic cricket, you want to play at the highest level but I love playing for Queensland, and if things work out well and I'm playing Test match cricket this summer then great.

"If not I'll keep my head down and keep working as hard as I can for Queensland."

For the one-day side however, Khawaja's return does create a headache for Queensland with Sam Heazlett in impressive form, scoring 70 and 51 in two knocks, while the Bulls have benefited greatly from the whirlwind starts promising youngster Max Bryant provides – he's striking at 162.5 so far in the tournament with scores of 20 and 32.

"It's nice to get two wins but we've got to keep playing good cricket, we can't get complacent," Khawaja said.

"We've got to keep doing what we've been doing well for the last two games and try and win the next two."

Victoria split their opening two matches at Perth's WACA Ground, losing their first match to Western Australia before miraculously defeating Tasmania after engineering a devastating collapse of 6-12.

Victoria squad: Peter Handscomb (c), Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Aaron Finch, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Matthew Short, Will Sutherland, Chris Tremain.

Queensland squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Xavier Bartlett, Joe Burns, Max Bryant, Ben Cutting, Sam Heazlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mark Steketee