Incumbent Test opener Sam Konstas has been picked to travel with Australia A to India as he fights to retain his spot for the Ashes.

Coming off a horror tour of the West Indies where he averaged just 8.33, the 19-year-old’s place will come under pressure ahead of the summer.

But two four-day games in Lucknow could give Konstas the opportunity to find form after his confidence took a battering in the Caribbean.

The matches will give the New South Welshman extra time to impress selectors, adding to the Sheffield Shield games he will get in before November’s first Test against England in Perth

Konstas will also get a chance to show selectors he can play in Asia, with Australia’s defence of the Border-Gavaskar trophy due to take place in India in early 2027.

“The subcontinent provides many unique challenges and the opportunity to utilise different skills with bat and ball,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.

“We hope repeated experiences in these conditions will assist players in developing an effective method and understanding of their game for future subcontinent tours.”

The squad is, naturally, full of spin-bowling depth, but also of batting potential for the future.

Victorian teenager Oliver Peake will get another chance to impress, two weeks after the 18-year-old batter made 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin.

Konstas, Xavier Bartlett, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake, Josh Philippe and Corey Rocchiccioli won’t play in the 50-over games that follow, returning to Australia for the first Sheffield Shield round.

“For many of these players we remain interested in the development of their short form cricket as well, but balancing out priorities meant we wanted them back and available for the start of the Sheffield Shield season,” Bailey said.

Other Test players outside the current best XI, like Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Kuhnemann and Sean Abbott have not been picked for the tour.

Australia A four-day squad: Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Liam Scott

Australia A one-day squad: Cooper Connolly, Harry Dixon, Jack Edwards, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Mackenzie Harvey, Todd Murphy, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachie Shaw, Tom Straker, Will Sutherland, Callum Vidler

© AAP