Red flags grow for Australia as Ashes loom large

Marnus Labuschagne’s Test future is hanging by a thread but the worrying sign for Australia is the makeshift opener is not the only member of the top order who’s a cause for concern.

Pat Cummins declined to discuss Marnus Labuschagne’s Test future but the worrying thing for Australia is he’s no longer the only Ashes-eve red flag.

The entire Australian top three, not just Labuschagne is now – on varying levels – a cause for concern heading into this month’s three-Test tour of West Indies which has suddenly taken on greater importance following the WTC Final batting collapse at Lord’s.

Cummins said pre-game that Australia would want to bed down its best Ashes line-up in the Windies which means big decisions are about to be made, even if Cummins and his bowlers lead the team to a historic victory on day three.

Labuschagne showed character and tried desperately hard at Lord’s but is on the verge of being axed for Sam Konstas, who should have been picked for the WTC Final had selectors applied the same derring-do they showed by handing him his Boxing Day debut in the first place.

But what about Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green?

Usman Khawaja’s form has added to Australia’s batting concerns. Picture: AP

Khawaja made a double century in Sri Lanka only two Tests ago and has been a towering figure for Australia since the last time England toured, but he will turn 39 midway through the third Ashes Test and his struggles against South African spearhead Kagiso Rabada at Lord’s will not be lost on an English side manoeuvring to get express quicks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood fit.

There is no doubt Khawaja deserves to play the first Test in Barbados, and given his prowess on slow, turning decks there is every chance he will thrive in Caribbean conditions, but the question is can selectors be convinced that form can carry through an Ashes if faced with England’s A-grade quicks on fast Australian tracks?

Cameron Green is a star and the future of the Australian batting order, and although he cannot be judged too harshly on two innings which lasted a total of five balls to Rabada, there is now not much time left for Australia to find out whether or not No.3 is one position too high for him in the order.

Perhaps Konstas’ up-tempo style can better offset the more methodical approaches of Khawaja and Green and create a better rhythm for the Ashes than the struggles of the top order to at times proactively move the scoreboard at Lord’s.

After the backs-to-the-wall brilliance of Alex Carey (43 off 50) bailed the top order out of major trouble against South Africa’s firing quicks on day two at Lord’s; Cummins praised the regular matchwinning influences of Carey, Travis Head and Beau Webster in the mid-lower order.

“It seems like the No.6 and 7 is always the trickiest place to bat. And 5,” Cummins said.

“What Trav Head has done over the years. Beau has played some crucial knocks lately and Kez (Carey) has been brilliant.

“He’s dragged us out of that.”

There is not too much time left for Australia to find out whether or not No.3 is one position too high for Cameron Green in the order. Getty Images

Australia needs more consistent platforms being set by the top three, and then the task for those to follow won’t be quite so tricky.

Cummins understandably did not want to be drawn on Labuschagne’s future with a Test Final still to be won, but the skipper acknowledged the fact his opener was far from disgraced in a match which has yielded 14 wickets in each of the first two days.

“Middle of a Test match we’ll work that out later on,” Cummins said on Labuschagne.

“I thought he looked sharp both innings. Again, some really good bowling. He batted some tough overs. I think he looked busy and I think he had really good plans. I thought he batted well both innings.

“No doubt he would have liked to go on, but he got himself in, faced quite a few balls and looked in command with his skills out there. Unfortunately both innings he found a way to nick it.”

The reality is getting dropped might actually be the circuit breaker Labuschagne – and indeed Australia needs at this point.

Labuschagne is 30 and not only is he more than capable of fighting his way back into the side; Australia desperately needs that to happen because Khawaja and Smith are not getting any younger and at some stage – whether that’s sooner or later – they will leave massive voids.

If Labuschagne can’t manage to find his way back it will be a weaker Australian side that tries to deal with the generational transition that is looming.

You do not make 11 hundreds and average 46 at Test level if you aren’t a world class batsman, and Labuschagne may be able to rediscover that if he can just step out of the rat race and away from the searing pressure he’s been under and recalibrate.

Originally published as Red flags grow for Australia as Ashes loom large