Khawaja, Burns help Queensland rally

Usman Khawaja gave himself the chance to press his Test claims by grinding out a platform for Queensland with the help of Joe Burns and Bryce Street on day two of the Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia at the Gabba.

After Western Australia were able to stretch their first innings as far as 332, due largely to an industrious unbeaten innings of 87 not out by the emerging allrounder Cameron Green, Queensland dug in to reach 1 for 167 as Street dropped anchor.

Burns was by the far the most enterprising of the three home batsmen on show, gliding to 76 from 119 balls before he was lbw to a ball of very full length to Green that looked to be going on to hit middle and leg stump.

From there Khawaja and Street scrounged their way through another 31 overs for 67 runs, taking Queensland more than halfway towards the Western Australia total without ever being able to assert themselves against Green, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly or David Moody.

Following Travis Head's century against New South Wales at Adelaide Oval and the strong early season performances of Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski, Khawaja needs a score of note to keep his name in the forefront of the selectors' minds despite a brilliant recent record batting in Test matches in Australia.