Marnus Labuschagne’s place in Australia’s Test team is under scrutiny after scores of 1 and 31 in the defeat in Darwin. Selectors met on Monday, August 17, to pick the squad for the second Test in Mackay, with Labuschagne and opener Jake Weatherald the two batters most in question.
A long wait for a hundred
The Darwin scores stretch Labuschagne’s wait for a Test century to 42 innings. His last was in July 2023, and since then he averages 25.32 with nine fifties. Aged 32, with 64 Tests, he was dropped from the side against the West Indies last year and asked to adjust his technique. He answered with five centuries in nine innings for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and one-day cricket, which earned an Ashes recall.
After two fifties early in the Ashes, he has made 166 runs at 18.44 in his last nine Test innings. Coach Andrew McDonald said there were encouraging technical signs but the bottom line is that Labuschagne needs runs, and that he and the coaches both know it.
A second omission could be costly, especially because No. 3 matters while it is unclear how long Steve Smith will keep playing. He was moved to No. 7 in the recent ODI series against Bangladesh, not dropped, with next year’s ODI World Cup also shaping selection.
Weatherald also under pressure
Weatherald scored 23 and 0 in Darwin and averages 20.36 after 12 Test innings. He changed his technique after the Ashes to reduce his lbw risk, but was dismissed edging behind and chopping on. McDonald said a small sample makes it hard to judge the changes.
Who could come in?
Josh Inglis is the only reserve batter in the 13-man squad, though he has limited first-class experience in the top three. Matt Renshaw and Cooper Connolly trained with the extended squad in Brisbane.
Renshaw, 30, looks the most natural top-three option. He averaged 49.90 in last season’s Shield with three centuries in 10 innings, and has made 170 and 135 in two of his three innings at Mackay. Connolly, 22, scored an ODI century opening against Bangladesh but has played only one first-class innings in the top three and has no first-class hundred. Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway are more likely to join Australia A in India in September.
McDonald said calls for change are understandable after a loss, but that the players feel the defeat deeply.
