Squad: Tim Paine (c & wk), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade and David Warner
Both Bancroft and Khawaja had lost their spots in the starting eleven in England after the first two and three Tests, respectively. But a mixed start for Bancroft for Western Australia in the domestic one-day cup as well as the Sheffield Shield and a patient knock of 49 for Australia A against Pakistan in the warm-up game - the highest in a total of 122 when young Imran Khan ran riot - has convinced the selectors of his form.
Alongside Bancroft, Burns - who last played a Test against Sri Lanka this February and scored 180 in a victory at Canberra-– returns after health issues had seen him lose favor for the Ashes. He was picked over Marcus Harris due to his performances with a few half-centuries in List A and first-class cricket this season, while Marcus Harris had failed to create an impression during the three Ashes Tests he played in. National selector Trevor Hohns felt that Burns partnering with David Warner would also allow Australia a left-right combination at the top. "We feel Joe was unlucky to miss the Ashes squad. Joe's record speaks for itself, he has Test hundreds on the board and has combined very well with David [Warner] in the past. We also like the feel of a right-hand, left-hand combination at the top of the order".
Meanwhile, Travis Head and Matthew Wade have retained their places in the middle-order with Marnus Labuschagne set to occupy the number three position and Steven Smith following him at four. Among the fast bowlers, Australia's selectors opted for all of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, and the uncapped Michael Neser, with the experienced Peter Siddle left out from the squad that traveled to England. Pace-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, however, remains on the sidelines, having punched and broken his hand in the dressing room at the WACA in October.
Though the hosts will start with three pacers and a solitary spinner in Nathan Lyon, Queensland's Neser continues to challenge the Test regulars for a place in the Test eleven. Neser already has 15 wickets at 20.20 in three games in the Shield so far, grabbing seven wickets in a four-wicket win over South Australia.
The series includes both a day and a day-night Test, with the first of those - a regular day fixture - scheduled for Brisbane from November 21 followed by the day-night Test at Adelaide from November 29.
Australia vs Pak 2019-20: Burns returns, Khawaja dropped from Test squad
Australia have named a fourteen-man squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan starting next week. Joe Burns and Cameron Bancroft have returned to contention for a Test spot, while top-order batsman Usman Khawaja has been dropped due to a poor run in the Ashes earlier this year and an inconsistent start to the domestic season.