Marnus Labuschagne’s fate locked in as debutant looms for second Test

Australia appear set to make a big change to their XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka with one star on the chopping block.

Marnus Labuschagne’s spot in the Australian Test squad appears safe as the Aussies prepare for the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Labuschagne has been under immense pressure with below par performances with the willow, leaving fans to call on selectors to drop the axe on him.

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Ahead of the second Test getting underway on Friday, stand-in skipper Steve Smith all but confirmed the top order would remain the same.

“I thought he played well at the back end of the summer, it looked like he was putting the pressure on the bowlers a bit more, he was proactive in the way he was playing, and he looked good at the start of his last innings here,” Smith said of Labuschagne.

“The ball he got actually spun a fair bit from (Jeffrey) Vandersay and caught the edge. So he was disappointed to miss out last game, but he’s batting well.

Despite lacklustre returns, Labuschagne looks set to survive. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“It’s just playing what’s in front of you. The more difficult the wicket is in terms of how much it is spinning and the inconsistencies, the more aggressive you actually have to be with your batting or the more proactive you have to be.

“I think when it’s a bit flatter you can almost sit on them a bit and wait for loose balls rather than go and look for them. So I think he understands that, he understands spin and angles and all those things, so I don’t think he’s far away from a good score.”

While Labuschagne will once retain his place in the squad, a debutant looms for Galle with Cooper Connolly on the brink of replacing Beau Webster.

The pitch looks far more spin-friendly which could give Connolly a major advantage over Webster in the XI.

Cooper Connolly (left) could be set for his Test debut. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“It’s another batter that bowls more than handy spin, and spins the same way as (Matt) Kuhnemann,” Smith said.

“We’ve got a few that go the same way as Nathan (Lyon) and Todd (Murphy).

“From what I’ve seen in the nets he bowls some really good balls. He was pretty consistent where he was bowling in Dubai and in the nets here and that’s all you’ve got to do in these conditions, try to bowl as many good balls in a good area as you can and the conditions just take over.

“I think he’s only bowled (96 balls) back in Australia, but it’s entirely different the way you bowl. And I think the way he does bowl and the way the ball comes out suits him quite nicely.”

Australia is expected to confirm its line-up later on Wednesday after its final training session.