As Renshaw fell, Khawaja fired an Ashes shot. But did one over draw a blueprint?

On a day when Matthew Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne fell cheaply in their final Ashes auditions at the Gabba, an unsung paceman may have just exposed one man who is guaranteed to line up against England in Perth.

Early susceptibilities were quickly forgotten by Usman Khawaja, who warmed up for the old enemy with a clinical 87 against a Nathan Lyon-led New South Wales attack, before being caught behind off Charlie Stobo.

Off the front foot and down the ground, Khawaja was glorious – an off-drive in the third session oozing brilliance.

The way he waited on the ball against Lyon, using power and timing to flick the legend over mid-wicket at the last second, was elegant.

But one over from rival quick Ryan Hadley threatened, and may have signalled a blueprint for dismantling the veteran early.

The 26-year-old delivered a well-placed short ball on his first delivery to Khawaja, after the Blues declared at 7-429, which crammed the Queensland veteran on his body. He fended it down, but appeared caught off guard.

Hadley followed it up two balls later. It may have been a no-ball, but Khawaja’s deflection popped up towards the slips cordon for a split second.

He was then beaten outside the edge twice to fuller balls without offering much footwork.

England’s expected opening bowling attack of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer – who Khawaja averages 24 and 12 against respectively – have made their names with fast, short-pitched bowling.

If their eyes were on the Gabba, they would have been eager watching those first six balls.

It’s a strategy as old as the game itself – soften them up, make them uncomfortable, then lull them into a false sense of security.

But also, the England duo would have been given a lesson in perseverance on Thursday.

Once Khawaja brought his trademark pull to the fore, the next two to drop short after the ball did not quite get high enough to trouble, the Blues went too full and wide. The classy champion was quick to pounce - his cover drive looking particularly strong. Rarely did they drop short and near Khawaja’s rib cage from that point.

But this New South Wales arsenal does not come with the same express pace as Wood and Archer, each capable of sending it down well over 140km/h.

Could that extra speed and precision be the difference, and expose a weakness against a man who will turn 39 during the Ashes? Or have these instances been anomalies? According to Khawaja, the back foot will be his zone regardless of who is in front of him.

“It’s not really a trap, everyone knows it’s one of the strongest parts of my game. I’ve felt really good all year, to be honest,” Khawaja said.

“I was obviously hitting and working on a few things for about a month-and-a-half before the Shield season started, but not too much more than that. I wanted to be mindful to be fresh.

“Five Tests is a long time, so you don’t want to peak too early.”

While Khawaja has not confirmed this summer will be his last, the sight of 22-year-old Victorian Campbell Kellaway cracking a century at the same time against Tasmania – eventually out for 147 after a 195-run stand with Marcus Harris (101 not out) – was a promising look to the future.

Earlier, Renshaw almost got his Ashes audition off to the worst possible start – taking off for a sneaky single on his first ball, only to nearly be run out once sent back.

Two balls later, and a leg side clip to the boundary to get off the mark was nearly miraculously caught by wicketkeeper Ryan Hicks.

But while Renshaw had his edge beaten a couple of times by Edwards either side of a rain delay, he gradually gained momentum – leaving more confidently and getting onto the front foot to flick through the leg side.

That was until he was clean bowled by Edwards for 29, attempting to withdraw from a shot and clipping on, before Labuschagne’s golden start to the summer ended when he was lucklessly caught at leg gully for four.

What may please selectors in their hunt for their next opener to face England was Khawaja and Renshaw each navigated tricky patches early under cloudy skies in a 94-run partnership, especially as fellow opening contender Jake Weatherald backed up a first innings duck with 12 for Tasmania.

“I don’t want to go into selections too much, but I’m sure the selectors have an idea of what they’ve wanted to do anyway. I’m not sure if this round or one innings is going to make too much of a difference,” Khawaja said.

“I assume they have a fair idea of what they’re going to do, it’s just another game and another innings. I don’t think anything is going to change too drastically in their minds.”

Queensland ended the day 4-238, with Jack Clayton in fine touch and unbeaten on 81.

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