Khawaja needs reset in Shield: Lehmann

Usman Khawaja's recent Test struggles have left national selectors in a conundrum, with former coach Darren Lehmann declaring Australia's No.3 needs a circuit-breaker before the Ashes.

Lauded for his match-saving 141 against Pakistan in Dubai four months ago, Khawaja has scored 209 runs at 23.22 in the home summer.

The 32-year-old fell for a third-ball duck in the first innings against Sri Lanka in Canberra, appearing to have used limited footwork before nicking a delivery from left-arm paceman Vishwa Fernando to the slips.

Khawaja has been entrusted with an anchor role in Australia's new-look ODI side but selectors must decide whether to retain him for white-ball tours of India and the UAE, which clash with the remaining Sheffield Shield matches.

Australia are understandably eager to lock down their best ODI side before launching their World Cup defence in England on June 1.

"He's got to play the four Shield matches with the Duke ball," Lehmann said on Macquarie Sports Radio.

"The way he got out yesterday was unlike Usman Khawaja, it was a lazy shot.

"He's a better player than that."

With David Warner and Steve Smith eligible to play after March 29, and Joe Burns and Marcus Harris finding form, Khawaja may need a statement long-form innings before the side for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on August 1 is picked.

The problem for Khawaja is where that could possibly happen given his schedule.

An Australia A side will also tour England this winter but it will run concurrently with the World Cup, potentially denying Khawaja another red-ball hitout.

Unlike Burns, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Bancroft and Shaun Marsh, Khawaja doesn't yet have a county deal for next season.

It means his next long-format match could be on July 23, when Australia play Australia A in the only lead-up match before the Ashes.

Australian coach Justin Langer came to Khawaja's defence when interviewed before play on day two in Canberra.

"We know he's a hundred-maker," Langer told ABC Grandstand.

"If you look over his career, he scores hundreds and he scores big hundreds. He's a very, very good player. He's the No.3 in the Australian Test team which usually goes to the No.1 batsman.

"He's working hard. He'll be fine."

Domain Test Series v Sri Lanka

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Jhye Richardson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando

First Test: Australia won by an innings and 40 runs

Second Test: February 1-5, Canberra