Number three at Trent Bridge, Cowan has paid the price for rash shots in his first two Ashes test failures when he was expected to be stoic at the crease. He was also battling illness in Nottingham.
Selectors have gone with an old head over Starc’s inconsistent radar, as Lord’s notoriously punishes the inaccurate.
While Cowan’s demotion is no surprise after his returns of 0 and 14 both ended with flails outside the off stump, but Starc is unlucky after taking five wickets in the first Test where he was hot and cold.
Harris, 33, is seen to have experience even though injury has only allowed him to play 12 Tests, from which he’s taken 47 wickets at 23.63.
He played in the West Indies last year but has since suffered and recovered from a shoulder injury.
Khawaja has been part of the Test side for several years since debuting in the last Ashes of the 2010/11 series, but his most common position is as a stand-by player.
He’s played just six Tests since with an average of 29.22.
Australia’s likely batting order:
Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Usman Khawaja, Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, Phil Hughes, Brad Haddin, Ashton Agar, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Ryan Harris.
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