Labuschagne blunder sums up Australia's day of woe

The opening rounds of the Sheffield Shield could now act as Test auditions for batting hopefuls due to the continued struggle of several Australian batsmen in the Tests in the UAE.

Australia had a gilded chance yesterday to bat themselves into a commanding position in the second Test against Pakistan but instead collapsed against some precise and skilful bowling, folding for just 145.

This summer always shaped as a merry-go-round in terms of Test batting selections due to the absence of banned trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

But even more opportunities have opened up for domestic batsmen due to the laboured efforts against Pakistan of the Marsh brothers, and debutant Marnus Labuschagne.

That trio have combined to contribute just 73 runs at an average of eight so far in this series, leaving the heavy lifting to Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja.

Even newcomer Travis Head is yet to nail down his spot, with a gritty knock of 72 in the first Test paired with two failures.

Of course, that single impressive innings alone could potentially be enough to allow Head to retain his spot for the first test against India in Adelaide from December 6.

Likewise, the selectors could ignore their batting failures and instead be swayed by the effective leg spin of Labuschagne, the experience of Shaun Marsh and the recent vice captaincy appointment of Mitch Marsh.

But there will be four rounds of the Shield completed before Australia is likely to announce its squad for the India series, which leaves a lot of time for other batsmen to forcefully press their case.

The likes of openers Joe Burns, Jake Weatherald and Daniel Hughes, NSW strokemaker Kurtis Patterson, and WA all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Hilton Cartwright could all come into consideration should they have a blazing start to the Shield season.

Kurtis Patterson of New South Wales. (AAP Image/Daniel Pockett)

There’s also a clutch of other batsmen who easily could leapfrog into the Test squad if they make enough runs over the next month.

Australia’s new selection panel has already shown it itself to be highly unpredictable. Few observers of Australian cricket would have predicted that the likes of Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell would be ignored for the Tests in Pakistan in favour of Labuschagne and Head.

Yet that latter pair of Test rookies is of far less concern right now than the Marsh brothers.

At the risk of becoming repetitive – I already addressed their struggles in a recent piece – Shaun and Mitch Marsh are currently the biggest flaw in this Australian team.

They are meant to be bringing leadership to this side – Mitch as its joint vice-captain and Shaun as its oldest player. One of the key measures of leadership is performing at the times of greatest pressure.

Yet both Marshes both have so very rarely excelled when Australia have needed them most over their respective careers.

Mitch Marsh’s sole run of good form came in the easiest of circumstances, over the final three Tests of a home Ashes series which was already deflated, Australia having stormed to a 2-0 lead to break England’s spirit.

Mitchell Marsh and Shaun Marsh of Australia (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

On either side of that rampant run he has been consistently poor with the bat. Mitch has now averaged just 10 with the bat across his past ten Test innings.

His older brother, meanwhile, was once a solid contributor on the road but has become a complete passenger outside of Australia, having averaged just 15 in his past 10 matches away from home.

At least one of them must be dropped for the first Test against India, and there’s a good chance that the same fate could befall one or both of Labuschagne and Head.

Australian coach Justin Langer could barely look Labuschagne in the eye yesterday after the 24-year-old gifted his wicket in the most lackadaisical fashion. He and Mitchell Starc had frustrated Pakistan for 40 minutes, and were threatening to bring Australia back into the Test, when Labuschagne was run out in confounding fashion.

Starc struck the ball back at Pakistan leg spinner Yasir Shah, who deflected the ball on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end, where Labuschagne dozily left his bat hovering above the ground.

This horrendously-sloppy piece of play snuffed out any faint hope Australia had of winning the series. The tourists then looked flat with the ball and in the field as Pakistan cantered to 2-144 at stumps, leading by 281 runs with three days to play.

There will be no chance to bat for a draw and save the Test this time. But several players will be batting to save their spots today or tomorrow.