Ashes 2023: Marnus Labuschagne sends injury scare through Australian camp before second Test

Australia’s preparations for the second Test have copped a blow, with star batsman Marnus Labuschagne howling in pain after being felled in training.

The Australian camp has brushed off concerns about an injury to Marnus Labuschagne after he copped a blow to the finger during training at Lord’s on Saturday.

Labuschagne and Steve Smith came back early from their leave period in a bid to ensure their respective twin failures at Edgbaston are the exception rather than the rule this Ashes.

After being given the back half of the week off following the thrilling two-wicket win in the first Test, part of the Australian squad returned on Saturday.

The session was primarily intended for fringe members of the squad, with Todd Murphy, Marcus Harris, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser and Matt Renshaw all in the nets.

Only two members of the XI from Birmingham trained. Entirely unsurprisingly, they were Labuschagne and Smith, both obsessional cricketers and both looking to bounce back from struggles at Edgbaston, where they combined for just 35 runs, with Smith making 16 and six and Labuschagne 0 and 13.

Marnus Labuschagne (R) and Steve Smith (L) were the only members of the Australian XI to train on Saturday. Picture: Getty

Stuart Broad spoke pre-series of preparing a new outswinger designed to combat the pair of Aussie star right-handers and backed it up, removing Labuschagne twice and Smith once.

Labuschagne and Smith received throwdowns from the Aussie coaching staff including coach Andrew McDonald, assistant coaches Andre Borovec and Michael Di Venuto and chairman of selectors George Bailey.

It was one such throwdown that it briefly appeared Labuschagne’s further participation in the series was in doubt.

The Queenslander howled in discomfort and was on his haunches for a couple of minutes before being tended to by the team doctor.

Labuschagne had a rare double failure in the first Test. Picture: Getty

But Labuschagne resumed batting, with Di Venuto later allaying concerns about the batter’s fitness.

“He kept on batting so he must‘ve been OK,” Di Venuto said.

“Otherwise he would have walked out. He‘s got a finger that has copped a couple of knocks. I think he just got another one. He said it felt better because the blood started to flow through or something. So it makes sense if that’s what you want.”

Di Venuto said Smith and Labuschagne had been desperate for a hit since their issues in Birmingham.

“They got wind of a net session that we had organised for the guys that hadn‘t been playing. They have had a few days off shadow-batting in their rooms. They got itchy feet. So we welcomed them down here to hit cricket balls as they both love doing,” Di Venuto said.

Marnus Labuschagne went into the Ashes as the world’s No. 1-ranked bowler. Picture: Getty

But Di Venuto said the Aussies were not yet specifically working on handling Broad.

“They will narrow in the closer they get to the game. They were both working on their own things and getting themselves ready,” Di Venuto said.

“(Labuschagne) can probably leave a couple of balls on 12th-stump line, that would be nice. Marnus is always working on his game. You have all seen him train before, he is meticulous in how he goes about his preparation. He is always fidgeting around with different things technically. That is all pretty normal for Marn.

“(Both Smith and Labuschagne) are very similar characters. They both would have been here if they scored runs or not. I certainly wouldn‘t be reading anything to that other than they just love batting and trying to get better.”

Assistant coach Michael Di Venuto chats with opening batsman David Warner (R). Picture: AFP

And the batting coach is optimistic that Labuschagne’s dual nicks in Birmingham were an aberration.

“I hadn‘t seen what happened in the first Test, I hadn’t seen that. And it certainly didn’t happen the week before at The Oval. Whatever it was, hopefully it was brief and he can get back to normal this week,” Di Venuto said,

:Pretty much normal. And that is all we have seen in the nets in the build up as well. It can be a bit strange, sometimes things happen in the game. He nicked two balls he normally leaves quite regularly. Hopefully he bounces back this week.:

David Warner also attended some of the session, but arrived out-of-uniform and with wife Candice their three daughters.

Uncapped Queensland wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson was among those training, having joined the squad to relieve backup gloveman Josh Inglis, who has flown home for the birth of his child.

Originally published as Ashes 2023: Marnus Labuschagne sends injury scare through Australian camp before second Test