Cricket legend Ian Chappell is "not convinced" Usman Khawaja is the right man for a full-time role at the top of the batting order for the Australian Test team.
Khawaja is set to partner David Warner in the opening pairing when the series in Pakistan gets underway tomorrow afternoon (AEDT).
The 35-year-old was recalled to the Test team during the summer's Ashes series, and marked his comeback with twin centuries at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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Khawaja averages 42.45 from 46 Test matches. But his average when opening the batting rockets to 71.57 from nine innings.
On Wide World of Sports' Outside the Rope, it was put to Chappell that Khawaja has now amended the deficiencies in his game that hampered his early career, specifically the ability to play spin bowling.
Chappell believes Khawaja still has those deficiencies, but it may not matter as he doesn't expect the Pakistan decks to produce much turn.
"I'm not convinced," Chappell said.
"In Pakistan he might be fine. I don't think they should be opening with Khawaja, I think that's a mistake.
"In Pakistan it will probably be fine. And you haven't got that many options, because I don't think (Marcus) Harris is really that good.
"Khawaja, I think if he gets on something that really spins you will see those weaknesses appear again. But I'm not sure you'll see that in Pakistan.
"Sri Lanka and India will be a totally different kettle of fish. Khawaja is probably the right bloke to open in Pakistan, but they might have some problems in Sri Lanka and India."
In an ideal world, Australia would have young gun batter Will Pucovksi available to open the batting full-time.
But the 24-year-old has struggled to get on the field due to ongoing concussion issues, and he is currently once again sidelined.
Victorian opener Marcus Harris was the man dumped for Khawaja mid-Ashes, and he has failed to impress in 14 Test matches to date.
Chappell believes the answer could be right under the nose of selectors.
Queensland batter Matthew Renshaw was considered Australia's next big thing when he debuted in 2016. But he's been forgotten about after only 11 Test matches in which he averaged 33.47.
"The bloke I think who got unfairly dealt with was the left-hander from Queensland, Matthew Renshaw. But he struggled to make runs," Chappell said.
"They dropped him on poor first-class form, not poor Test cricket form, and I think if you are going to be dropped from Test cricket it should be because you're showing poor Test form."
Australia begins its series against Pakistan at Rawalpindi tomorrow.
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