NSW duo Steve Smith and David Warner hit Sheffield Shield centuries in their clash with Victoria.
FAWAD Ahmed has bowled himself out of Test contention.
The leg-spinner was always going to be the gamble that Australia could not afford to take once Shane Watson broke down with a minor hamstring strain.
Watson will play in the first Test against England at Brisbane's Gabba next week as a batsman but will not bowl.
Fawad had a bad week of Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria, reinforcing the view that he is simply too big a risk.
His elimination from the Test candidates leaves just one place in the team up for grabs.
It is a tight tussle between Tasmanians George Bailey and Alex Doolan which will be decided when the selectors finalise the side at a meeting in Brisbane tonight.
Bailey was a standout during the recent one-day series in India while Doolan has been in sublime form at the start of the first class summer.
As by far the most productive one-day batsman in the side since joining the 50-over team early last year, Bailey remains the favourite to collect a baggy green cap.
Fawad shot into Test calculations when he claimed 6-68 for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia recently.
In his past three Shield innings, including two against NSW last week when he bowled to Test captain Michael Clarke and destructive opener David Warner, Fawad had collective figures of 1-166.
Worse than that, he has conceded more than four runs an over.
The only way Australia was going to take a punt on Fawad was if he continued taking bags of wickets and Watson was able to bowl as a fourth seamer.
But with only three front-line fast bowlers, including a sometimes wayward Mitchell Johnson, the selectors are not prepared to gamble with Fawad.
He may still play later in the series if he can begin claiming wickets again and Watson resumes bowling.
Nathan Lyon's start to the Shield season for NSW has been no more than steady but his accuracy will be vital to try and create pressure on England.
Leg-spinners have a better record at the Gabba than off-spinners in Test cricket, largely thanks to Shane Warne.
The game's greatest spinner claimed 68 wickets in 11 Tests at an average of 20, the most wickets ever taken at the Gabba by any Test bowler.
Richie Benaud is the next most successful leg-spinner with 23 wickets in five Tests at an average of 26.
However Lyon is one of just three off-spinners to claim more than eight wickets in a career at the Gabba. He has 11 at 24 in two Tests after a good first game against New Zealand.
The most successful off-spinner at the Gabba is actually West Indian Lance Gibbs, who once held the record for the most number of wickets in Test cricket.
He claimed 14 wickets in two Tests, while Ian Johnson took 12 wickets in six Tests.
Likely team: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon. 12th James Faulkner or Ben Hilfenhaus.
Leg-spinners
Shane Warne - 11 tests - 68 wickets - average: 20 - best figures: 8-71
Richie Benaud - 5 tests - 23 wickets - average: 26 - best figures: 6-115
Doug Ring - 2 tests - 14 wickets - average: 19 - best figures: 6-72
Off-spinners
Lance Gibbs (WI) - 2 tests - 14 wickets - average: 23 - best figures: 5-8
Ian Johnson - 6 tests - 12 wickets - average: 20 - best figures: 3-46
Nathan Lyon - 2 tests - 11 wickets - average: 24 - best figures: 4-69
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