New Test era takes shape

Joe Burns, Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja could be Australia's new-look top three for the two Test tour of Bangladesh, according to reports.

New captain Steve Smith is likely to drop himself down the order to No.4 in an inexperienced team remodelled in the wake of retirements and injuries following Australia's Ashes defeat.

Australia's Test squad is not expected to be named until after the current one-day series against England concludes, with a fifth and deciding game on Sunday night at Old Trafford.

News Corp reported that Burns and Marsh would be named as Australia's new opening combination, just the third in the past 30 years to be two new faces from the previous Test.

Australia must replace the retired Chris Rogers and injured vice-captain David Warner, who was this week ruled out of the tour with a thumb injury.

Steve Smith was elevated to No.3 for Australia's series against the West Indies and England, and in seven Tests has averaged 71.9 with three centuries, including a memorable double-hundred at Lord's.

Khawaja's last Test was at Chester-Le-Street in 2013 // Getty

However, the new captain had already indicated he would consider a move back to No.4 and is reportedly set to confirm that with a recalled Khawaja in at first drop in his first Test series since the 2013 Ashes tour.

The selection of Khawaja would force new Queensland Bulls coach Phil Jaques to find a new captain for the state's Matador Cup campaign, and it would be first time since Martin Love batted at first-drop behind Matthew Hayden that Queensland had two batsmen in the top three.

Uncapped Western Australian Cameron Bancroft is reportedly set to be named in the Test squad after impressing on the Australia A tour of India, including a brilliant 150. He was also the third-leading run scorer in last summer's Sheffield Shield with 896 at 47.15 opening for WA.

Watch: Bancroft's blitz against India A

Australia coach Darren Lehmann has already indicated he expects the first-class experience of Western Australian campaigner Adam Voges to stand him in good stead to keep his place in the Test team.

Voges has just seven Tests under his belt, with a healthy average of 46, but has played 170 first-class games. His 36th birthday falls on the tour, and his good form at the back end of the Ashes coupled with his vast knowledge of the game could be an asset to new skipper Smith.

Quick Single: Hayden backs Burns-Bancroft combo

"A lot of experience obviously helps," Lehmann said this week. "We obviously haven't got that much anymore.

"We'll have to sit down and work out whether that's a plus, or we're going for youth and away we go. We'll wait and see as to what the chairman (Rod Marsh) wants to do.

"Whoever we pick, you always like to have a couple of experienced guys in there, I would think, so it's probably a plus for him (Voges). The selection table (decision) will tell us that."

There could also be a recall to the Test side for allrounder James Faulkner to contest with incumbent Mitchell Marsh.

Watch: Faulkner in Twenty20 triumph

The Tasmanian was suspended for three ODIs and a Twenty20 match, ruling him out of the series in England, after a drink-driving incident that also saw him heavily fined by the British courts.

He helped Lancashire secure the county's first domestic Twenty20 title, but suffered a dislocated finger in the final.

However, having served his suspension he may be welcomed back to the fold, with Smith calling for his name to be in the selectors' conversations.

Quick Single: Faulkner 'destined' for Tests, says Marsh

"His name is obviously going to be thrown up there if his finger is OK," said Smith.

"He performed really well recently in the county series over here and he's getting better every day, so I'm sure his name will be thrown up.

"He's obviously been a big part of this one-day side for the past couple of years. He's done a terrific job there for us. His death bowling has been outstanding as well so he's a big loss. But it also gives other guys opportunities to fill that role at the death. I think they're relishing that challenge and looking forward to that."

Selectors are also considering medical advice on the fitness of Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood, with both possibly rested from the tour to give them a chance to overcome niggles ahead of a busy home summer.

It could open the door for a Test return for fast bowlers Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, with Peter Siddle's chances also boosted by his impressive display in the fifth Ashes Test.

Watch: Siddle's super six on Ashes return (restrictions apply)

Another quandary for the selectors is the option of a second spinner. Fawad Ahmed was not called upon during the West Indies and UK tours and may have fallen down the pecking order behind Ashton Agar, who was called up for the one-day series in England, as well as Stephen O'Keefe, who was capped in Dubai against Pakistan a year ago.

Australia play two Tests against Bangladesh, in Chittagong from October 9-13 and Dhaka from October 17-21, as well as a three-day practice match against a BCB XI starting October 3 in Fatullah.