Overview
- Incumbent opener Sam Konstas posted 4 and 14 at the WACA, weakening his grip on a Test spot after a lean West Indies tour.
- Marnus Labuschagne top-scored with 160 at Allan Border Field in front of selection chair George Bailey, reinforcing his recall push.
- Matt Renshaw advanced his case with 128 for Queensland, while Usman Khawaja added 69 in a strong Bulls first-innings display.
- Other candidates had mixed returns: Marcus Harris made 61 before a run-out, Nathan McSweeney followed a duck with 6, Jake Weatherald hit 67 after an early drop, and Cameron Bancroft fell for 10.
- Cameron Green resumed first-class bowling with 1-13 in four overs, as Pat Cummins remains sidelined with a lower-back issue and may miss all lead-up matches.