Andrew McDonald says Marnus Labuschagne’s position at No.3 is safe despite a lean trot, as Australia prepare to give their top six batters an extended run in their slots in Test cricket.
Labuschagne, who made 19 runs at an average of 6.33 in the 1-1 series draw with West Indies, has made 1005 runs in his past 35 innings at an average of 33.5, with just one Test century.
They are far from dire figures in what has been a mostly winning side, but well short of Labuschagne’s career average of 50.82. He also has 11 Test centuries overall.
Labuschagne was caught in the slips for three and five in the shock eight-run loss to West Indies at the Gabba by similar deliveries that left him around off-stump.
In next month’s two-Test tour of New Zealand he will face quality seamers such as Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson, who will no doubt test him with similar tactics employed by the West Indian bowlers.
McDonald said Labuschagne’s overall stellar record suggested he was due for several successful Tests and series.
“We have full trust and faith in the way that he goes about his preparation and innings,” the coach said.
“He has been undone by certain plans at times, so there is no doubt he will be looking into that. He will get busy and back to work.
“There is no doubt you are going to go through some lulls of form … but we expect him to bounce back.”
McDonald said there were positives ahead of the New Zealand series to come out of the loss at the Gabba, including Steve Smith’s unbeaten 91 in the second innings in his second Test at the top of the order, and a solid 42 by new No.4 Cameron Green.
Cameron Green. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Green was just starting to find his groove after a slow start when man-of-the-match Shamar Joseph dismissed him with a cracker.
“I think if you watched his innings at Shield and international level he can start slow, and that is something we are working on,” McDonald said.
“It takes him a while to get his movements in sync at times … but once he is up and going and moving well it is a pretty good sight.”
Travis Head, man of the match in Adelaide with a century at No.5, bagged a king pair at the Gabba, but McDonald said the batting order would not be changed just because of one lost Test.
“Definitely not. We are not in the mood to change the batting order,” he said.
“We feel like as a collective that unit will be able to have success over multiple Test matches, and we will let that play out.”
(Photo by Albert Perez – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Australia’s bowlers have got their batters out of trouble on several occasions this Test summer, but at the Gabba the talents of Joseph, with his stunning 7-68, prevailed.
“That is definitely an improvement area and there will be some batters that sit in the room that look back on the summer of a few missed opportunities,” McDonald said.
“Was it decision making? Was it good bowling? That will all unfold. These guys have an appetite to improve the whole time.
“We see our batting unit as a collective. There are going to be people within that who fail at times and people who succeed.
“We feel as though with that order as it is they complement each other and we should be able to navigate through most situations.”
Blink
Roar Rookie
The quicks aims as so succinctly described by Laura Harris (while fielding in WBBL) is to attempt to hit the top of off stump. With an upright seam you may catch one side, jag back (like the ball Green got) but most will go with the arm. But being quick bowlers many are prone to lose the plot on a regular basis, giving their fielders plenty to chase, as that is what the batter is waiting for. Hazelwood has been fantastic in that regard, with his superb accuracy, and he got the rewards.
Blink
Roar Rookie
There are always gonna be problems but we are the best team in the World because the selectors know what works as does the coach. Critics like yourself have no bearing on anything and thank goodness for that. The wannabes who never were and never will be!
Blink
Roar Rookie
Steve Waugh was never a great bat. But he could certainly bat at test level. He must have faced the collective worst bowling tactics ever to him and feasted on the rubbish. Short outside off stump 4 runs, each and every time it seemed. Strange tactic.
Blink
Roar Rookie
A 40 plus test average in Oz and overseas is fantastic. They're nearly all a bowlers paradise these days, the opposite of the past.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Yes, a decent one. Not a great one. He is not the messiah or the lynch pin of this middle order.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Steve Waugh wasn’t averaging 50 when he was dropped.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
NZ bowlers will no doubt test him with similar tactics employed by the West Indian bowlers. Bowling on off stump hoping the ball will move away off the seam. That’s basically what most pace bowlers are trying to do most of the time.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Agreed. It’s unusual to have such a sustained patch of good luck, but that’s certainly what appeared to be happening. Doesn’t mean he still won’t have a decent career.
Boo-urns
Roar Rookie
If you use a really dumb projection system 50/30/20 for their last three years, Marnus would be projected to average about 48 going forward, Smith 49, Green 32 and Warner about 30. Smith and Marnus are not long term problems...
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
because he's one of the best 6 bats in the country and apparently form doesn't enter into that.
Paul
Roar Rookie
I heard that too. That quote about "form is temporary class is permanent" is just an excuse. Even Steve Waugh was dropped early in his career. Why should Marnus be any different?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
The selectors, including McDonald, have decided the fate of the batting lineup for the summer, the minute they decided to move Smith up and bring in Green. At that stage they must have known the form of most of the order down to Carey was iffy, yet here we are. I hope they play of result-type pitches in New Zealand. There have been a few wickets in recent years over there which have been very favourable for batting. I don't think anyone gains anything by that, not the supporters or the players and especially not the Aussie guys who can't see there are issues with this current batting ensemble.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Aaah, but they bat as "a collective" and "that order as it is they complement each other and we should be able to navigate through most situations.” I reckon you're right but clearly the coach sees things very differently.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
That's exactly what should happen but the coach/selector has made it clear Marnus is on the plane to New Zealand regardless whether he even plays a Shield game.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
To be sure he's better than any rival Australian middle order bat in the shield. But he's not going to be an all time great and will likely finish with a mid 40's average. Those who retired with 50+ averages (Waugh, border, Chappell, Ponting, Hussey, Smith etc) are clearly a level of two better.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
"....undone by certain plans at times". Which opposition will now rinse and repeat. Green could do with No 3 providing support. Carey, Marshall and Head can evaporate in blink of any eye.
ant
Roar Rookie
That's a bit harsh on Marnus, he's certainly a quality batter. Sure he had his lucky moments, but that doesn't mean he's not up to it.
ant
Roar Rookie
100% correct. Couldn't agree with you more.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Marcus should go back to Sheffield Cricket. Two games before he'd need to head to NZ for the first test on Feb 29. If he can't into the runs against Tas or SA then he should be dropped for someone like Renshaw.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Marnus is essentially just facing karmic realignment. The oodles of chances he gave to fielders in 2020-2022 that were dropped, are now being caught. He was once considered the second luckiest batsman behind Stokes. It masked the very real concerns of the chances he gave the fielding team. And coupled with his less than spectacular away record, you get to where he is now.