Test of character for nobody’s No 3

Australia’s surprise selection at No 3 will face his moment of truth at the SCG today.

Rishabh Pant celebrates a century as Marnus Labuschagne looks away during the second day’s play of the Sydney Test. Picture: AP

You’re an Australian selector. You need a Test No 3. Another Bradman. Another Ponting. Another Chappell. The other Chappell. The name of Marnus Labuschagne comes up. Rings a bell. Labuschagne, Labuschagne … the bloke we sacked in October because he wasn’t good enough to bat at No 6? Top bloke. Let’s promote him. You chant character over cover drives three times — and Labuschagne is in.

And then on day one of the SCG Test, a boy is in the office of Cricket NSW. A television is on the wall. A Fox Cricket report is confirming that Labuschagne is Australia’s new No 3 batsman. The boy spins on his heels and shouts at his father, “Why?!” It’s a decent question from the kid. Labuschagne’s first-class average is 33.17. His first two Tests have given him an average of 20.25 and the sack. And now he’s back. As an experiment? Lab rat?

He’s not in the top 20 batsmen in the country on performances but here he is in pole position. Walking in the footsteps of Bradman. Ponting. Chappell. The other Chappell. Test coach Justin Langer has been the architect of the contentious “character over cover drives” mantra. He keeps saying Labuschagne is a jolly good fellow and a fighter. In other words, he has character. But let’s see if he knows his arse from his elbow as a top-order batsman; cover drives have merit.

At any other ground in Australia, he’s not even in the XI. You need a back-up spinner at the SCG and he’s been given that role … and the first-drop slot for good measure. Go figure. He will resemble a nightwatchman when he shuffles out. His character? He’s competitive. Up for a rumble. Dedicated. Ambitious. Langer has called him a great bloke and very good player. In that order. After Pujara proves the pitch is true with his marathon 193 — finally, the defence rests on the day India ensures a historic series victory — it’s his opposite number Labuschagne’s turn today. The test case for a controversial selection method. As a selector, you’ll be diving under the table in embarrassment if this fails.

Early yesterday, Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts has said he hopes to see a maiden Test hundred. He’s nearly received his wish — Labuschagne has finished with 0-76. The Indians motor past 600 with an hour left on the clock. Labuschagne keeps stretching as if he’s expecting to bat before stumps. The tourists declare with 10 overs to go. India’s huge total has put them in a virtually unbeatable position in the Test. As such, they’ll claim their first series in Australia. But it won’t be official until day five. Australia’s grave is being dug slowly.

Late yesterday has loomed as a nightmare session for Labuschagne. Surviving in the shadows of the day’s close. Maybe he’ll need a nightwatchman of his own — although it’ll be a bit rough to ask one of Australia’s bowlers, after they’ve been pasted for two days in baking heat, to go back out and repel the new ball. Or perhaps it’s all they deserve. Labuschagne is padded up. Sitting outside the dressing room. Ready to go. Nervously tapping his foot, sipping water. Usman Khawaja, on nought, nicks one — only for Rishabh Pant to botch it. Khawaja and Marcus Harris make it to stumps. The most relieved man in the room? Labuschagne.

He will be in the SCG nets this morning. The ever-present crowd behind the Members Pavilion will have all eyes on him. Ditto for when he walks out to bat. Normally the advice for Test greenhorns is to keep doing what got them into the team in the first place. That’s not the advice for Labuschagne. Get out there and keep averaging 30? It’s a bizarre selection but the proof will be in the performance today. He will never get better conditions. The pitch has barely a scratch on it. Water-cooler talk with past Test players has them asking the same question as the kid in the office of Cricket NSW. Why?!