Sheffield Shield star impresses as Khawaja shoots down ‘bat-off’ theory — PM’s XI Wrap

New Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has stamped his authority with a big hundred which left Australia’s batting hopefuls waiting longer for a final chance to press their claims.

The Prime Minister’s XI laboured in pristine batting conditions in Canberra as Usman Khawaja said it “doesn’t really matter to me” who steps up to become his opening partner when David Warner retires.

Masood, who has made four Test tons in 30 matches, spent more than six hours at the crease to compile an unbeaten 156 in his first game as Pakistan skipper after star batter Babar Azam stepped down from the role across all formats following a disappointing World Cup campaign.

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The tourists were tested early by an impressive opening spell from South Australian quick Jordan Buckingham before taking advantage of the conditions to reach 6-324 at stumps on the opening day of the four-day fixture.

Masood’s commanding innings meant a long day in the field for Australia’s best batting prospects, with Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw spending large parts of the day in the slip cordon along with Cameron Green at gully.

Green sent down 19 overs for WA in the Sheffield Shield last week but did not bowl at all on Wednesday, leaving only his batting to mount a final push for a Test spot.

Along with Marcus Harris, the quartet is poised to enter a “bat-off” for the Test vacancy set to open up after the Sydney Test when Warner steps back, but Khawaja on Wednesday wasn’t buying the hype.

“I don’t believe in the ‘bat-off’ people are talking about right now,” Khawaja told SENQ Breakfast.

“I think (the selectors’ decision) is going to come to a lot more than that … you can’t pick teams on form. You’ve got to pick teams on who you think the best player is.

“If we pick teams on form, the Australian team would be changing every second week, so you can’t just do that.”

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After pouring cold water on the prospect of Queensland teammate Marnus Labuschagne being promoted up the order to join him, Khawaja said he had no preference out of the specialist openers contending for the spot.

“To be honest, it doesn’t really matter to me, genuinely,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see which way they go. I actually don’t know … I think (making runs this summer) does play into it.

“But I think if you go a bit further back for the last five years, all of the guys that are in contention would have scored a truckload of runs (over that time).”

Buckingham, 23, continued his strong Sheffield Shield form to be the pick of the PM’s XI bowlers on Wednesday with 3-63.

He came on first change and bowled with more accuracy than opening duo Mark Steketee and Nathan McAndrew, catching the inside edge of left-hander Imam ul-Haq with an inswinging delivery which carried through to keeper Jimmy Peirson to leave Pakistan 1-18.

Peirson came up to the stumps and took a brilliant legside catch to give Buckingham his third wicket, ending a quickfire 41 from Pakistan veteran Sarfaraz Ahmed in the final session.

Todd Murphy (1-90 off 22 overs) was targeted early by Masood but fought hard to tighten his economy rate and was later rewarded with the wicket of Saud Shakeel, who chopped a straightening delivery onto his stumps.

Bancroft provided a highlight on the final ball of the day as he took a one-handed catch low down to his right at first slip to dismiss Faheem Ashraf for 17.

Prime Minister’s XI: Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw, Cameron Green, Nathan McSweeney (c), Beau Webster, Jimmy Peirson, Nathan McAndrew, Mark Steketee, Todd Murphy, Jordan Buckingham

Pakistan XI

Abdullah Shafiq, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Abrar Ahmed

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