‘All at sea’: Marnus Labuschagne’s poor form continues in big ‘worry’ for Australian Test team
Calls are mounting for an established star to be dropped from Australia’s Test team after his poor run of form continued in Sri Lanka.
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Marnus Labuschagne is under mounting pressure to keep his spot in Australia’s Test team after another low score in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
It was a dominant day for Australia, with Steve Smith bringing up his 36th Test century.
Alex Carey scored his second Test century, sweeping and reverse sweeping his way to a hundred after the shot proved his downfall on the 2023 tour of India.
Smith (120 not out) and Carey (139 not out) combined for a 239-run partnership and were were unbeaten at stumps, powering Australia to 3/330 with a lead of 73 runs.
But Labuschagne has looked out of sorts for some time and his lean form continued in the first innings in Galle after Australia bowled Sri Lanka out for 257 as Kusal Mendia (85 not out) provided some resistance.
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The Aussie No. 3’s footwork movement around the crease has left a bit to be desired and he was out for four on Day 2 on Friday, undone by Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
Labuschagne appeared unsure whether to come forward or play deep in his crease and was trapped LBW.
Remarkably, it was given not out by the on field umpire but Sri Lanka successfully reviewed and Labuschagne was sent back to the pavilion.
Greg Blewett said on Seven’s coverage: “Just had a bit of a mental lapse there Marnus. Made a bit of a mess of this one.”
Watch Marnus Labuschagne’s dismissal in the video above
The dismissal continues a dire run of form for Labuschagne, who looks completely out of form — he has scored seven half centuries since his last hundred in the 2023 Ashes.
“He’s the worry going forward for the Australian cricket team,” Blewett said.
“He had a great start to his career but he’s come back to the field. That career is in halves really.
“For your No. 3 to score one hundred in that time is a bit of a worry heading into a big summer.”
Simon Katich said: “It was a beautiful piece of bowling by Jayasuriya but Marnus Labuschagne would be disappointed with that dismissal. Just a bit of indecision.”
Labuschagne, 30, has played 52 consecutive Tests but he is running out of chances to keep his place in Australia’s XI.
Cricket statistician Ric Finlay wrote on X: “Marnus all at sea in this environment...”
Labuschagne is averaging just 27.54 during the current World Test Championship cycle and his overall Test average has dropped to 46.58 after he scored nine Test centuries between 2019-2022.
Since the start of the 2023/24 home summer, Labuschagne’s scores are: 16, 2, 63, 4, 60, 62*, 10, 1*, 3, 5, 1, 2, 90, 6, 2, 3, 64, 12, 1, 72, 70, 2, 6, 20, 4.
Labuschagne was the only member of Australia’s top order to miss out on a big score in the first Test, dismissed for 20.
Smith tonned up, Usman Khawaja scored a double century, Josh Inglis made a hundred on Test debut, while Travis Head and Alex Carey also made solid scores.
Australia’s selectors won’t take dropping Labuschagne lightly, given the importance of the No. 3 position in a Test team.
But the strong form of Australia’s recent debutants — Inglis, Sam Konstas and Beau Webster — means Labuschagne’s poor form is starting to stand out.
After playing two Tests against India, Konstas wasn’t picked for the two Sri Lanka Tests and was sent home to get match practice for NSW in the Sheffield Shield.
Australia’s top six is particularly intriguing given Inglis’ strong start, Webster’s assuredness at the crease and the fact Cameron Green is all but certain to return to the XI for June’s World Test championship Final against South Africa at Lord’s.
Asked about the make-up of Australia’s team over the next 12 months, Katich said: “I think Konstas will be right there in the mix, Inglis could keep his spot and same with Webster.”
Looking ahead to next summer’s Ashes, commentator Trent Copeland left Labuschagne out of his potential Australian XI, saying on Seven: “I think we are seeing a little shift in the Australian team.”
He added that Inglis brings “impetus” to the Australian line-up.
Smith could move up to No. 3, while Blewett added: “I wouldn’t say no to someone like Cameron Green moving to No. 3 and Josh Inglis at No. 6.”
Kurtis Patterson is also pressing for an international recall, scoring a century for Australia A against the England Lions.
Patterson, 31, scored a century against Sri Lanka in Canberra in 2019.
After the WTC Final, Australia plays three Tests in the West Indies before next summer’s Ashes.
Meanwhile, Smith continued to have a blinder in Sri Lanka as he scored his 36th Test century and broke two records held by Ricky Ponting.
On Day 1, Smith took his 197th catch in Test cricket, surpassing Ponting’s all-time mark.
Only Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene, Joe Root and Rahul Dravid have taken more catches.
Batting on Day 2, Smith also overtook Ponting (1889) for the most runs scored by an Australia in Tests in Asia.
Originally published as ‘All at sea’: Marnus Labuschagne’s poor form continues in big ‘worry’ for Australian Test team
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