Usman Khawaja says Marnus Labuschagne can overcome his ‘opening-itis’ before WTC final
Australia is yet to officially finalise its team but all indications point to Marnus Labuschagne winning the race over rookie Sam Konstas – but there’s one battle he still needs to overcome.
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Usman Khawaja quipped that Marnus Labuschagne was still suffering from an extended bout of “opening-itis” but would rise to the challenge of jumping into the furnace at Lord’s.
Australian top order statesman Khawaja has himself never craved opening the batting either but has embraced the philosophy that “beggars can’t be choosers” and declared Labuschagne would do the same in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa on Wednesday, if as expected, he is asked to step up from No.3.
When David Warner retired in the summer of 2023-24, Khawaja at the time dismissed the prospect Labuschagne could replace him, remarking his fellow Queenslander had “opening-itis” after once sending wicketkeeper Alex Carey out to open for a second innings run chase in New Zealand when Warner hurt his arm.
On Monday at Lord’s at a press call launching Prime Video’s exclusive coverage of the WTC Final, Khawaja turned to Carey standing behind him for confirmation that Labuschagne is indeed still not over “opening-itis” but would deliver for Australia anyway if asked.
“I don’t know, Alex, is he over it?” Khawaja cracked.
“He’s not over it,” Carey chimed in from off camera.
“He’s not over it, no,” Khawaja laughed before getting serious and comparing Labuschagne’s situation to the unexpected circumstances which led to him cementing himself back in the Australian Test team as a mature-age opening batsman.
“But you don’t always get to choose in Australia.
“You’ve got six of the best batsmen in the country.
“Like I’ve said in the past. There’s plenty of times where I’ve preferred to bat in other positions but beggars can’t be choosers.
“You just be humble you’re playing for Australia and you take what you get and you make the best out of it. Because at the end of the day it’s a team game.
“I know the best place for me to bat for the team is to open, so I’m very happy to open and do my role for the team. I’m sure it’s the same for Marnus. I’m 100 per cent.
“I know he’ll take that role on as well.”
Australia is yet to officially finalise its team but all indications point to Labuschagne winning the race over 19-year-old rookie Sam Konstas to open the batting against South Africa as Australia hunt back-to-back WTC titles.
The Australians are wary about the sight of a dry pitch at Lord’s, which almost guarantees all-rounder Beau Webster must play, while Nathan Lyon could also prove a crucial weapon at the venue where he suffered the heartbreak of blowing his calf in the pivotal turning point of the 2023 Ashes.
Labuschagne is under intense pressure to hold his place in the side ahead of the three Test tour of the West Indies later this month with Konstas breathing down his neck, but he looks set for a reprieve at Lord’s thanks to his big-match experience, pedigree in English conditions and reward for this essentially being a grand final for the past two years of Test cricket.
Khawaja said he was still unsure who would walk out to bat with him but declared Labuschagne was ready and denied the uncertainty and chopping and changing at the top was unsettling.
“Honestly I genuinely have no idea. I stay away from it,” Khawaja said at the Prime launch, having had Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Konstas, Travis Head and now likely Labuschagne as opening partners in the past nine Tests.
“I think he’s done it (open) a lot. He’s opened before. He started off opening for Queensland, he’s batted 3. Much like myself, if you can bat three I think the opening is an easier transition.
“The only time it’s harder is when you bat second innings and you have to run off and change your pads and put them on. Marnus is a terrific player so if he gets an opportunity I’m sure he’ll be fine.
“(The revolving door of openers) doesn’t really bother me too much if I’m honest. An opener can get out first ball and then you’re batting with No.3 anyway. It’s not that big of a deal.
“All the guys in this team I’ve batted with. It’s a revolving door opening. Opening has been a revolving door for a long time. It just shows you how hard opening is. It’s not an easy place to bat.
“Davey (Warner) had how many partners? Double figures? I’ve had a few partners since Davey has gone.
“It’s just a tough place to bat. Test Cricket is the toughest cauldron there is. You can’t hide in Test cricket. There’s nowhere to hide. Either way, whoever is going to come in will do a good job.”
THE PROOF CAREY HAS NO LORD’S DEMONS
It was just a cheeky throwaway line from Alex Carey – but it was definitive proof the Australian wicketkeeper has moved on.
Carey returns to Lord’s in Wednesday’s World Test Championship final against South Africa for the first time since his divisive stumping of Englishman Jonny Bairstow.
The opportunistic taking of the stumps in the 2023 Ashes prompted an uncharacteristic response from the Lord’s crowd, particularly the Members in the historically polite Long Room.
Carey had previously conceded the fallout of that dismissal took a toll on him but was at ease when asked about the absence of Nathan Lyon in that Test’s fourth innings.
“Yeah, no spinner and still got a stumping so that was good in that Test match,” Carey, at an Amazon Prime launch on Monday, said with a laugh.
Australian opener Usman Khawaja wasn’t far behind Carey at the centre of the fallout, exchanging words with a vocal member on his way to the dressing room.
Khawaja, 38, said the memories of that match remain vivid in his memory despite it being two years and 17 Tests ago.
“I have always loved playing at Lord’s, last time was a little bit disappointing but hopefully we can have some better memories this time,” he said.
“I think it might be my fourth Test here, played a one-dayer, a World Cup here, I’ve played a lot of cricket here.
“I have been here a lot, so for me, it feels not that long ago but it does feel long ago – it’s a weird thing to say.
“I can still remember that Ashes like it happened just like six months ago but you also realise it was like two years ago.
“I love playing at Lord’s, I really do, it’s got a real different way of playing cricket; nuances you can see, there’s a massive slope in the ground.
“Everyone talks about it but every time you come here it gets you and takes you back, I’m a guy who focuses on positives, I am pretty positive this week.” – TYLER LEWIS
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