Australian selector Rod Marsh has explained the decision to leave Usman Khawaja out of the ODI squad for the tour of New Zealand.
The selectors' decision leave Khawaja out of the squad left many bemused, with Khawaja smashing bowlers to all parts in the recent Big Bash, scoring 345 runs in just four BBL matches and enjoying a scintillating summer for the Test side.
When asked how close Khawaja was to a call up to the side, Marsh said he was "about as close as you can be without being chosen".
"We'd love to have him in the side...but we've got two very important Test matches and there being no garantee that Usman would have played if he was in the side, then he's better off playing a Shield game, that's the way we decided," Marsh said.
Marsh said that there is nothing extra Khawaja needs to do to ensure a call-up to the side, with his current form deserving of a spot.
"He's in red hot form, it's just a shame we can't fit him in."
Marsh said that the only rationale he could give for Khawaja's absence from the ODI side is his need to prepare for the Test matches against the Kiwis by playing Shield cricket.
"We tried our hardest to work him into the side, but we just couldn't find anyone to drop...because they're all in fantastic form...so it's very disappointing for him.
"It's really sad but it's really healthy...it's probably why we're winning, we're leaving out players that deserve to be chosen."
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