Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne both came into the two-Test series against Bangladesh under pressure — but only the rejuvenated allrounder has enhanced his status in the Australian team.
Green, thanks to a sublime knock of 104 in Darwin and a half-century in tough conditions in Mackay, will be on the plane to South Africa for October’s three-Test series after two compelling knocks at No.5.
Yet No.3 Labuschagne’s struggle to find form and runs endures.
After his first innings knock of four in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, the 32-year-old Labuschagne now has gone 23 Tests and 43 innings at an average of 24.69 without a century, in a format where he had scored 11 tons in his first 42 Tests.
Of concern is the manner of his dismissals against Bangladesh. An indecisive nudge to slip for one in the first Test in Darwin was followed by missing a straight delivery after scoring 31 in the second innings.
In Mackay, in the first innings of the second Test, Labuschagne missed a Shoriful Islam delivery on leg stump and the ball deflected off his thigh pad and onto the wickets after making just four.
Coach Andrew McDonald said after the Darwin Test that Labuschagne needed “big runs”.
Captain Pat Cummins and No.3 batter Steve Smith have come to Labuschagne’s defence in the past two days.
“I actually think he is batting really well at the moment,” Smith told the host broadcaster before play on day one of the Mackay Test.
“I have watched him bat in the nets the last few days and his bat path is coming down in a really good place.
“Batting is all about decision-making under pressure and when he is at his best he is not thinking technically and is just in a contest with the bowler and playing what is coming at him.
“We have seen him do it for Australia and he has been the best batter in the world at stages.”
Batters in the Sheffield Shield have hardly made a compelling case to replace him, but Labuschagne’s issue has been that he is not getting in the contest in Test cricket enough.
Cummins said after bowling to Labuschagne in the nets and in match simulation situations that he was “as sharp he has been for a long time”.
“It looks he is putting pressure back on the bowler and making it really difficult to get him out,” Cummins said.
Unfortunately, that has not translated into Tests and after his short stay in Mackay, former Test star Mark Waugh said Labuschagne “might have played his last game for Australia.”
“It was an awkward looking shot, his balance wasn’t quite right,” Waugh told Kayo Sports.
“Whether he gets a second innings or not, we don’t know. If he doesn’t, selectors will strongly look at his position for South Africa.”
Green, who had averaged 26.28 in the latest World Test Championship cycle before his ton in Darwin, has been Australia’s best batter in the last two innings.
Mitchell Starc, speaking after taking 6-12 on day one of the Test in Mackay, said Green’s 51 not out on the same day continued a positive trend..
“I thought he played fantastic last week for his hundred, his first in Australia, and he has backed it up again today in definitely harder conditions,” Starc said
“Whatever he is doing is paying off for him.”
