{"id":154345,"date":"2021-11-03T07:14:56","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T08:14:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=154345"},"modified":"2021-11-03T10:56:31","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T10:56:31","slug":"left-field-solution-to-thwart-ashes-demons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=154345","title":{"rendered":"Left-field solution to thwart Ashes demons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marnus Labuschagne<\/a> should move from first drop to opening the batting in the first Ashes<\/a> Test so Australia<\/a> have a better distribution of right-handers and left-handers in combatting Stuart Broad<\/a>, says legendary wicketkeeper Ian Healy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Victoria coach Chris Rogers has revealed that Will Pucovski<\/a>, a right-handed batter trying to overcome the symptoms resulting from a 10th concussion, is "unlikely" to play in the first Ashes Test.<\/p>\n

That means that two left-handers \u2013 incumbent opener Marcus Harris<\/a> and veteran Usman Khawaja<\/a> \u2013 are likely in a two-man race to join the left-handed David Warner<\/a> at the top of the order.<\/p>\n

If that's the case, fresh in Australia's mind will be the havoc wreaked on left-handers during the 2019 Ashes tour, which saw Broad torment Warner and Harris bowling around the wicket. The right-arm speedster dismissed Warner seven times in 10 innings and Harris on three occasions in six innings.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Nadal to play in Australian Open, putting pressure on Djokovic<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Healy has cautioned Australia's selectors against setting themselves up for the same trap, as they look to shape an XI for the Brisbane Test set to begin on December 8.<\/p>\n

"I think Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head<\/a> are capable of playing more successfully than they have at (Test level)," Healy said on SEN radio.<\/p>\n

"Australia's problem here is left-handers. We've got so many left-handers if they all make the side.<\/p>\n

"One of Harris or Khawaja makes the opening spot and Travis Head bats at five.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"We've already got Warner in there.<\/p>\n

"Stuart Broad loves bowling around the wicket to left-handers and we've got three or four we're lining up for him. I think we have to be careful there."<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Scottie Pippen unloads on 'condescending' Michael Jordan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Healy then threw up his left-field idea of opening with Labuschagne, who's predominantly batted at No.3 over his 18-Test career and has thrived in the role, averaging 60.8 and scoring five tons, including a double century.<\/p>\n

"I might even think of opening (with) Marnus Labuschagne. Labuschagne and Warner, then Khawaja, then (Steve) Smith<\/a>\u2026 Head five and (Cameron) Green<\/a> six," Healy said.<\/p>\n

\"Mark<\/p>\n

"I think we need to make better use of right-handers against Broad.<\/p>\n

"We've got to be careful there, and our lefties have to be good if they do get in the team."<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Sportsbet loses $5 million to astonishing Melbourne Cup decision<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Australia will be aiming to retain the Ashes urn, having regained it at home over the 2017-18 summer before defending their triumph in the 2019 tour of England.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Marnus Labuschagne should move from first drop to opening the batting in the first Ashes Test so Australia have a better distribution of right-handers and […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=154345"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154347,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154345\/revisions\/154347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=154345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=154345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=154345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}