As Australia’s white-ball squad prepares for a return to action in England, attention once again turns to the makeup of the T20 side, with consecutive World Cup tournaments scheduled for the next two years.
Whilst Marnus Labuschagne’s inclusion in the touring party is hardly surprising given his incumbency in the ODI XI, it will be interesting to see if he is given an opportunity during the T20 component of the tour.
Labuschagne has played just ten T20s in his professional career to date and has an ordinary record in the game’s shortest format, with a highest score of just 28.
However, when his form over the last 12 months is considered, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that he is given an opportunity in England.
Given Australia’s 21-man squad will play three T20 intrasquad games prior to the series proper, at the very least the Queenslander will have an opportunity to push for selection. But what role would he play in the team?
(Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Considering his ability to play long innings, Labuschagne is probably best suited to batting at No. 3, allowing him to anchor the innings and accelerate in the later overs. However, Steve Smith has this position secured, having scored 251 runs at 83.33 in his last nine T20 internationals at a strike rate of 147.
While Smith can bat lower – and he does when hitters are elevated to accelerate the run rate – the former captain remains the best man to play the anchor role.
Realistically, to fully maximise Glenn Maxwell’s breathtaking scoring rate he too should bat in the top four, with No. 4 looking like the ideal position behind anchor Smith.
Maxwell averages 41.1 at the No. 4 position with a strike rate of 159.38. It simply isn’t worth pushing him down the order to accommodate Labuschagne.
With Alex Carey keeping and batting at No. 6, the No. 5 spot seems to be Labuschagne’s most likely role.
The Queenslander is an excellent player of spin and has demonstrated in his short ODI career to date that he can manipulate the field with ones and twos, absorbing minimal dot balls while also finding the boundary.
He has scored at a healthy strike rate of 94.42 in ODIs, with his maiden ODI hundred in South Africa showcasing his ability to bat fluently towards the end of an innings.
In that innings Labuschagne made 42 off 29 balls in the last ten overs with a strike rate of 144.83 in that time period. While this included five boundaries, for the most part it was a culmination of working the ball into gaps and running hard.
Naturally in the shorter format Labuschagne would need to accelerate sooner, which would likely lead to a higher overall strike rate. Having played very few T20s, his challenge will be to adapt to playing short cameos.
While his scoring rate cannot compete with the likes of Maxwell, Labuschagne’s ability to rotate the strike and not waste balls would be an asset at No. 5 and arguably more valuable than a dot or boundary-style player.
His role would be similar to that of Jono Wells, whose manipulation of the field outweighs a lack of power and has made him a vital cog in the Adelaide Strikers middle order. Wells still has the ability to find the boundary but lacks the power of many competitors, utilising clever placement of the ball to find gaps.
Indeed Wells scored just 43 per cent of his runs from boundaries last BBL season, the lowest percentage among the 22 players to score 300 runs or more.
The Strikers star had the highest average in the most recent BBL season and scored at a more than serviceable strike rate of 135.41.
While Wells would be thoroughly deserving of an Australian T20 cap, his absence from the current squad leaves him on the outer and opens the door for Labuschagne to cement a place at No. 5.
Other contenders for the position are Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade, both of whom were given an opportunity in the middle order in Australia’s most recent T20 assignment in the absence of Maxwell.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Marsh would offer a different style to Labuschagne as a powerful ball-striker rather than a manipulator of the field. Nonetheless, having performed strongly in the middle order in the BBL for a number of years, the West Australian can still offer a solid option at No. 5.
Unlike Marsh, Wade plays his BBL cricket as an opener and would perhaps be better suited to a role at the top of the order given his brutal ball-striking ability when the field is up. In the last BBL season Wade averaged 50.14 at an astonishing strike rate 171.21.
One possibility would be to move Aaron Finch into the middle order, where he has performed well in his admittedly limited opportunities to date. In his five innings at Nos. 5 or 6 the captain has compiled 142 runs without being dismissed at a strike rate of 179.75.
Finch, like Marsh, is more of a power hitter than a nudger but has demonstrated an ability to score from ball one with the field spread, something many accomplished batsmen struggle with. Given Australia’s plethora of opening batsmen and lack of middle-order options, this may be worth another try before the next World Cup.
This would also open the door to Josh Philippe and Marcus Stoinis, although Wade’s superior scoring rate and incumbency in the side probably place him higher in the pecking order.
Ultimately this leaves Australia with two options for the upcoming T20 series:
Option 1
- David Warner
- Aaron Finch
- Steve Smith
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marnus Labuschagne or Mitch Marsh
Option 2
- David Warner
- Matthew Wade or Marcus Stoinis or Josh Philippe
- Steve Smith
- Glenn Maxwell
- Aaron Finch
With Option 1 probably more likely given Finch’s role as captain, Labuschagne is a genuine chance to play in England.
Only 12 months on from his dramatic rise to Test stardom, a return to English shores could mark the Queenslander’s ascension to a true three-format player.
Brian
Guest
Due to covid Warner and Finch will now be 35 by the time the next T20 WC comes around and 37 for the next ODI WC. I'd open with Marnus because father time sapres no one
HR
Roar Rookie
To see how he goes in the format? He’s played bugger-all T20 cricket, and it’s worth giving him a run in the side and seeing where he might fit in. He wasn’t in the Test side either until he subbed in at Lords, and look where he is now.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
He has been constantly getting better in t20s.
Paul
Roar Guru
I totally agree about batting positions, especially when it comes to T20 cricket,but right now,I've no idea where he should bat. IMO,the easiest place to bat in this format is at the top of the order, while 5 or 6 is the hardest. I'd start him off down the order (might as well see if he can finish innings),knowing that he can always be moved higher if that doesn't work out. If it does though,what a strong lineup.
Tom
Uh what? Smith looks like a fish put of water playing T20’s? His last 15 T20I’s (since he started getting picked as a pure batsmen and batting 5 or higher) he averages 43 at a strike rate of 148. That’s elite if he can maintain that record.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
So average they are ranked #1 in the world in T20. And if you think Smith looks like a fish out of water, you should look back on some of your previous comments (including this one) to understand what that really looks like....
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Paul, I agree on your statement regarding his performance in FC cricket prior to his remarkable Test rise. However, in T20 I really feel your batting position makes a massive difference. You cannot just pick your best 6 batsmen, and slot them in. I feel ML is the same as UTK in the T20 game, if you are opening, its fine, but coming in at 5 or 6 is a bit of a gamble. Would rather have a Smith at 3, and then some hitters at 5/6/7. With Finch, Warner, Smith and Maxwell as top 4, think we have our fill of top order players.
Penguin King
Guest
All the batsmen in the squad: Alex Carey: [M: 74/Runs: 1621/SR: 131.25/Ave: 31.17/100s: 1/50s: 8/HS: 100] Aaron Finch: [M: 284/Runs: 8914/SR: 143.75/Ave: 36.08/100s: 8/50s: 60/HS: 172] Marnus Labuschagne: [M: 10/Runs: 97/SR: 100.00/Ave: 12.12/100s: 0/50s: 0/HS: 28] Ashton Agar: [M: 93/Runs: 839/SR: 116.20/Ave: 18.23/100s: 0/50s: 1/HS: 68] Mitchell Marsh: [M: 91/Runs: 1913/SR: 124.70/Ave: 30.36/100s: 0/50s: 9/HS: 93*] Glenn Maxwell: [M: 268/Runs: 5983/SR: 154.40/Ave: 27.57/100s: 3/50s: 33/HS: 145*] Josh Philippe: [M: 32/Runs: 798/SR: 138.30/Ave: 33.25/100s: 0/50s: 7/HS: 86*] Steve Smith: [M: 189/Runs: 4014/SR: 126.14/Ave: 31.60/100s: 1/50s; 18/HS: 101] Marcus Stoinis: [M: 114/Runs: 2430/SR: 128.29/Ave: 32.83/100s: 1/50s: 13/HS: 147*] Matthew Wade: [M: 127/Runs: 2451/SR: 134.44/Ave: 27.23/100s: 1/50s: 16/HS: 130*] David Warner: [M: 280/Runs: 9218/SR: 142.20/Ave: 37.93/100s: 8/50s: 75/HS: 135*] Why would they go for Labuschagne?
Tom
They surely go with option 1, that’s one of the most damaging T20 top 4’s in world cricket. Back to the topic of Marnus, I don’t think he’ll play any T20’s. That said, I think it’s pretty useless for people to try and use his T20 record as justification for him to play or not to play. Off the top of my head I think he’s only played 3 or 4 T20’s in the last 2.5yrs. He’ll be playing in the 3 intra squad T20 warm up matches, if he sprouts wings and plays out of his skin (like he did in a Qld intra squad match recently with a very quick 95no) in those matches then I would have no issue with him getting a run, no one outside of that top 4 has really managed to lock themselves. Personally, I’d be more inclined to play Marsh purely from a bowling perspective, you don’t really want to rely on a part time leg spinner to bowl many overs in a T20, especially to guys like Roy, Bairstow, Morgan and Buttler. I expect we’ll run with a top 7 of Warner, Finch, Smith, Maxwell, Carey, Marsh, Agar for the first match.
Simoc
Guest
12th man or spectator would be his best role. He shouldn't be in any T20 national squad at this stage. I'm assuming he's there for the experience but test cricket is his forte as it is Smiths. Smith is going ok in T20 but looks like a fish out of water. I'de leave him out to if better players were available. The team looks to have Warner, Maxwell, Finch & Starc to win games for them. They need a lot more than that. It's a pretty average lineup in T20 but better in ODI where they should win.
Paul
Roar Guru
I don't think it matters where he plays, but I'd have Labuschagne in the T20 side for all 3 games. Ditto for any more T20's in the coming months. The guy is 26 years old and is part of the future of Australian cricket. He's had an extraordinary rise in terms of his batting skill at Test level and that's been replicated at international ODI level where he averages over 50 with a strike rate of 94. So what if he's hardly made a run in first class T20's. Before his extraordinary achievements in the last 18 months, he'd hardly made a commotion in first class cricket either. This is series where the only thing at stake is pride. I'm not arguing Australia should not select it's best side, I'm saying Labuschagne is part of that best XI, both now and probably for another 6 or 8 years at least. Get some game time into him so he's ready for the World Cup, Try him out in different batting positions and see what happens.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Hamlet
Patrick
Roar Pro
You make a good point about keeping the Finch-Warner partnership together. I’d say in all likelihood, the selectors will share this view, and opt for one of Labuschagne, Marsh, or Wade at 5. It will be particularly interesting to see how Marnus goes if he gets the chance- personally I think he’d be well suited to number 5 (although his T20 record probably doesn’t warrant an opportunity). I think there is merit to moving Finch down though. Often you find in T20s that a team will get off to a flyer, and then stagnate when wickets fall. I don’t see this stagnation happening with a Maxwell/Finch middle order combo. Last time Finch had a stint at 5, he scored 20* (5 balls), 36* (14 balls), and 18* (13 balls). Those three matches included Australia chasing down 138 inside 15 overs (run rate of 9.5), and chasing down 244 (admittedly at Eden Park, but even so). If they can get Wade firing at the top, this is possibly the highest scoring combination. That said, the sample size is small- too small to come to any final conclusions. To be honest, I think it’s worth trying both options- there’s time before the World Cups- and then deciding which one works best.
Ace
Roar Rookie
It's playing with fire , in my mind, to split Warner and Finch at this point. They have batted together for quite a while now and have a great yes/no understanding to go with their power in the early overs. Marnus could easily bat at 5 as could Marsh. With the top four generally eating up overs Marsh could be more useful with his bowling. Also, it's hoped that Carey can have some time to get a few under his belt in the warm up games. But Marnus and his game does say : Follow me Boys"
Patrick
Roar Pro
I tend to agree that there's little justification for Labuschagne's selection, but I do think it's a genuine possibility. With the squad selected, its probably Labuschagne and Marsh competing for a middle order spot, although Wade has been used there as well. If he outperforms those two in the warmup games, there's every chance they go for him, considering that the majority of those T20 games were before the considerable improvement he's demonstrated in the last 12 months.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Having only played 10 T20 matches with a top score of 28, I would have thought there was close to zero justification for picking him in that format. You’d think that Wade, Phillippe, Marsh, Stoinis would all be ahead of him unless they go for a bit of experimentation. As you note, we have a problem with too many T20 openers. I’d say Marsh and Wade might be the best choices seeing Stoinis only seems able to open, though Philippe might be worth a go.