On a day when Matthew Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne fell cheaply in their final Ashes auditions at the Gabba, an unsung paceman may have just exposed one man who is guaranteed to line up against England in Perth.

Early susceptibilities were quickly forgotten by Usman Khawaja, who warmed up for the old enemy with a clinical 87 against a Nathan Lyon-led New South Wales attack, before being caught behind off Charlie Stobo.

Off the front foot and down the ground, Khawaja was glorious – an off-drive in the third session oozing brilliance.

The way he waited on the ball against Lyon, using power and timing to flick the legend over mid-wicket at the last second, was elegant.

But one over from rival quick Ryan Hadley threatened, and may have signalled a blueprint for dismantling the veteran ea

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