The selectors had three big questions to answer when picking their 18-man squad for a three-Test series in Pakistan.

The first of those was regarding Marcus Harris, the second around the number of spinners the touring party would take to Pakistan, and the third whether Jhye Richardson would travel.

Based on the touring party selected (listed below), it would be fair to say the selectors have only got one of these conundrums right.

Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

Jhye Richardson being left out is the smartest possible option.

Australia are about to embark on ten sub-continent Tests. Three against Pakistan, two against Sri Lanka, one against Afghanistan (in India or the UAE likely) and four against India.

That is as tough as a winter gets.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 24: Jhye Richardson of Australia celebrates after taking his first test wicket, the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka during day one of the First Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at The Gabba on January 24, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

What is more concerning if that in 7 of the last 20 Tests on the sub-continent, and in 6 of the last 14 against India and Pakistan, Australia have been forced to bowl more than 140 overs in their first innings.

The list of those innings is as follows:

With Richardson having a long injury history, and coming off another one during the home summer, the risk of playing him in Pakistan and having him break down again is far too high.

It's well known that the sub-continent are the toughest conditions in the world to play cricket as a quick bowler, and with Richardson also inexperienced in the conditions, a baptism of fire against Pakistan wouldn't have been the way to go.

The more experienced options in the squad - Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, as well as the work horse Scott Boland and Michael Neser - is a far better attack than what would have been created with the inclusion of Richardson on this occasion.

Watch for Richardson to play against Sri Lanka who are further down the rankings later in the year with an eye to taking him to India at the back end of the year if he succeeds.

The other questions though are ones the selectors have failed dismally on.

Marcus Harris getting another chance defies all reasonable belief after a shocking summer.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 04: Usman Khawaja of Australia and Marcus Harris of Australia leave the field at the end of play during day two of the Fourth Test match in the series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 04, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Michael Clarke may have summed it up best when he blasted the decision to take an opener - and an out of sorts one at that - as the only specialist batting replacement.

“You're not going to open with him. Khawaja is going to," Clarke said.

“You're only going to take one spare batsman. You're not going to take an opening batter as your spare batter, that makes no sense to me at all.”

Harris being taken to the sub-continent despite making just one 50 in his four Tests on home soil during the Ashes summer is a baffling call.

While Usman Khawaja can move up and down the other, he excelled as an opener last time in the United Arab Emirates and should excel in Pakistan, having worked the demons against spin out.

That would have opened the path for another specialist batsman with more versatility to come into the side such as Jordan Silk, with the Tasmanian captain averaging 70 with the bat this Sheffield Shield season.

Whether the selectors realise it or not, taking Harris to Pakistan is almost a disservice given it will rob him of valuable Sheffield Shield cricket as he looks to put a weight of runs under the belt.

The final question was regarding spinners, and Ashton Agar's selection is another which defies belief.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Ashton Agar of Australia leaves the ground after being dismissed by Stuart Broad of England on 98 runs during day two of the 1st Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on July 11, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

He has done very little to push his selection case, and now raises a question whether the selectors trust Mitchell Swepson to play as the second spinner to Nathan Lyon.

Two spinners are often the order of the day in the sub-continent, although debate has swayed back and forth with quicks doing a bulk of the damage in Pakistan since international cricket returned to the nation.

That makes the selection of Agar all the more baffling, given his Test bowling average sits at 45 from four Tests, and his first class average a horrid 41.28.

That isn't good enough to be considered for an Australian touring squad, and while one would think he is behind Swepson, his inclusion raises eyebrows.

Regardless, the selectors got the most important one right - leaving Richardson out from a workload point of view, but there is a general feeling this squad could be stronger.