Peter Handscomb will consider pursuing a short-term English county deal in the hope of returning to a Test cricket batting order that is wide open ahead of the Ashes.

Axed from Australia's Test squad after a tough series against India, Handscomb has found form in the ODI arena and knows a stint in English conditions - though likely brief - could significantly bolster his chances of a red-ball recall.

Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns and Aaron Finch have inked county deals while Will Pucovski - who must earn a Test cap or Cricket Australia central contract to qualify - and Matt Renshaw could also court interest.

Handscomb's probable selection for the ODI tours of India and the UAE means there is little chance of him playing in the second half of the JLT Sheffield Shield season.

Handscomb top-scores for Aussies

A county deal would likely allow him at least one first-class match and several white-ball fixtures before Australia's World Cup squad assembles in early-May and then the Ashes begins in August.

"If something comes up, I think it would be a good chance to get some first-class cricket," Handscomb said from the ICC T20 World Cup launch at the MCG on Tuesday.

"I think anyone that makes runs in any format is really putting their best foot forward, putting their hand up to get a Test spot.

"The Ashes is still a long way away and there's still a lot of cricket to be played before then. Form can change and players can come in and out."

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The selection of Pucovski, Burns, Kurtis Patterson and Marcus Stoinis in Australia's Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka has added to the sense of uncertainty around who will form the top six for the first Ashes Test.

Steve Smith and David Warner, whose ball-tampering suspensions expire on March 29, are also in contention to reclaim their spots.

No other candidate is likely to be locked in given Australia's Test batsmen have gone the whole summer without scoring a century.

Even Usman Khawaja - the only Australian batsman to reach triple figures in the past 12 months when he made a ton against Pakistan in Dubai in October - is a question mark at No.3 given his lack of big scores this summer.

NSW batsman Patterson started his Test career well against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, while pace-bowling allrounder Stoinis could debut in the second Test in Canberra starting Friday after replacing Renshaw in Australia's squad.

"I think the pitch might be a bit different to the last Test match that they played," Stoinis told reporters at Melbourne Airport.

"I'm prepared, I'm ready but I don't want to get too excited yet."