Khawaja's record is good enough to afford a bit a slack. He is going through so much right now its worth waiting for him to come back into form

Agree - perhaps this is why he should have been rested, on the assurance his place in the Ashes was assured.
This would have given him a break without any extra worries

I would not drop Khawaja yet. Perhaps he could have done with some time off but really we do not know from the outside. 

The only problem is that he has played a similar  number of Tests as Shaun Marsh, about 35, and has only a slightly better record.

Usman has kept failing  when the team has needed him to step up.

I don't like it as soon a Australia has a commanding  performance against a visiting team, they quickly get labelled as one of the worst teams from their country to visit Australia.

It wasn't long ago, when SL still had Herath, many of us watched them outclass Australia at home in SL, when we still had Smith and Warner.

Our pitches are very different  from those of most foreign teams. They heavily favour us at home.

I missed most of the cricket yesterday.

From what I saw, Patterson was dropped to a regulation catch on 0, and Burns was dropped early in his innings at slip.

I was thrilled to see Australia make such a big score after being 3-29. Burns now has four centuries for Australia in 16 Tests or so. Ironically, because of his poor Bellerive form from the tour game against the Sri Lankans, I would not have selected him.

Head and his partnership, from two  inexperienced Test players was excellent. At 3-29 they were under extreme pressure when they commenced their partnership.

The Canberra pitch looks good too. SL could also make a huge score. I think the selectors have erred not selecting a pace back up bowling all rounder, like Michael Neser, who has demonstrated  he has the stamina to play FC cricket. He is not   a Mickey Mouse cricketer, like Stoinis, who was selected in the squad because of Mickey Mouse cricket performances.

I'm still vexed that Aussie selectors have not selected Pucovski for this game. In the flesh, live, this guy has more talent than nobody else. 

 So true.

Maybe this is why  his performances have suffered?

To be fair Sri Lanka have looked awful, 4 basic catches dropped, plenty of misfields, tame bowling in this test alone. Were crap against New Zealand and swept at home by England just prior to this tour as well.

At least it shows we aren't in the gutter of test cricket.

We can not afford to carry a passenger. 

Big day yesterday for Head and Burns. I said at the start of the day Burns needed a big hundred to make the Ashes squad. He delivered. Head is now looking like a Test match batsman. Is he being groomed as  the next Baggy Green captain?.....

Puck has been complaining about his mental state evidently.. so CA has sent him home to his family. Is this going to be an ongoing issue thruout his career?

Patterson with a fine hundred

All quality. He is dead set cert for #3 down the track.. perhaps even the Ashes.

With Khawaja consistently failing he should be dropped.
 If Warner is back uninjured would we open with Warner & Harris then  Burns @ 3.
Warner, Harris, Burns, Smith, Patterson, Paine, Cummins = a pretty good batting line up.

For Patterson to bat at 3, he would have to be exceptional as a batsman due to his height.
There have been a few tall openers, all exceptional - Mat Hayden & Viv Richards examples.
Most openers & 3 tend to be shorter, to do with eye line above the pitch & reaction time.
Boon a great example.
I see Patterson as a 4 or 5 where he can use his height to advantage.

That last ball from Starc was 154kph!

Patterson has the technique to bat #3. Has done it for the Blues.. I certainly dont see Burns at first drop. Smith if not Patto.

Harris is playing himself out of a cert Ashes spot. 

No chance is Cummins ready to play seven. He’s a very handy 8 but I think that’s where he’s best. I’d rather he become the best bowler he can be that’s very handy with bat than trying to turn someone with a batting average in the mid twenties into a true all rounder

And for me Harris goes to the Ashes as a backup opener at best.

I am still not writing off Renshaw. He has the remaining Shield matches and the A side, if picked, to impress. 

Paine has the most dignity, poise and media acumen as a captain since Mark Taylor.

He exceeds Waugh, Ponting, Clarke and Smith  by some margin.  The middle two were tantrum throwers when the team was losing. Waugh was described as selfish and callous by his former team-mates ( Warne and Michael Slater), whilst Smith was immature, weak by ignoring ball tampering, and always looked uptight in the field and upset with his team-mates.

Those calling for Smith to replace Paine must be deluded! 

Paine is leading the team from the front. He  was identified a long time ago for this role by national selectors, despite the idiocy  of Tasmanian Shield selectors.

Nor was I until I saw him live at Bellerive.

He was our best batter, outside Smith, in Asia.

The pitch is looking very benign.

SL may post a big score.

I think you were the first calling for his selection, Baggers.

It just shows that there are current  batters in the Shield, who can step up to Test standard.

I'm not sure our current selectors are doing a very good job.

I didn't see any of Paine's innings.

I'm disappointed in his strike rate of 39 in his 45 NO, particularly as Aus were in such a dominant position when he came to bat.

How did he bat?

You come across this problem mate? I do prefer the Fox coverage to be honest.

Oh no, not another talented sportsperson with these issues!

ATM he isn't.

Long term he could develop into a number seven.

His strike rate was lowish as he was shepherding Patterson to his debut century. Tim hit everything out of the sweet spot.

Who are the others DC?