{"id":452726,"date":"2025-06-09T23:19:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T23:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=452726"},"modified":"2025-06-10T01:13:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T01:13:29","slug":"glaring-issue-with-aussie-plans-to-open-with-marnus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=452726","title":{"rendered":"Glaring issue with Aussie plans to open with Marnus"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the eve of the World Test Championship final between Australia<\/a> and South Africa, the final makeup of the Aussie side remains a mystery.<\/p>\n

One squad was picked for both this one-off Test at Lord's and for the subsequent tour of the West Indies, and the role of some squad members are more obvious than others.<\/p>\n

\ufeffFor example, Matt Kuhnemann, who recently had his action probed and cleared by the ICC<\/a>, is in the squad to form part of a two-pronged spin attack in the Caribbean, and is unlikely to play in England, while Beau Webster is seemingly in the mix as a back-up all-rounder.<\/p>\n

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But beyond that, several selection decisions could give a glimpse into the minds of selectors who will likely have one eye on the home Ashes series later in the year.<\/p>\n

Who partners Usman Khawaja?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After dazzling in his first taste of Test cricket against India at home, Sam Konstas<\/a> didn't play in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

\"Sam<\/p>\n

Instead, left-handed dynamo Travis\ufeff Head was put to the top of the order, but he isn't expected to reprise the role at Lord's.<\/p>\n

Marnus Labuschagne instead is the man expected to step up, but Konstas' selection in the squad does throw up some doubt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If Konstas doesn't open, the two players simply don't fit in the team together.<\/p>\n

The opening pair has traditionally been made up of one player who can hold an end, while the other plays more aggressively.<\/p>\n

Konstas clearly demonstrated in Melbourne and Sydney his preference is for the latter. He's also never played in England, so his selection would come with some risk<\/a>.\ufeff<\/p>\n

But does Marnus' form even warrant his selection in the first place?\ufeff<\/p>\n

\"Tubby's<\/p>\n

What about Marnus Labuschagne's form?\ufeff<\/h3>\n

Labuschagne has traditionally gone well in England. It was there he introduced himself to the world in spectacular fashion as a concussion sub for Steve Smith.<\/p>\n

But his form over the past two years has been poor.\ufeff<\/p>\n

He hasn't scored a Test century since the 2023 Ashes series, and has averaged only 28.33 in this WTC cycle. His strike rate over the last two years has dropped to 46.4, against a career rate of 51.94.<\/p>\n

In the most recent home summer, his scoring was at times glacial. He scored just 2 from 54 balls in Perth and 12 from \ufeff54 in Brisbane.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Usman Khawaja has the anchor role secured and there are concerns as to whether or not Labuschagne can play the aggressor against a new ball, given he was all at sea against Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada is expected to pose a similar threat.<\/p>\n

He's hardly set the world alight in his two games \ufefffor Glamorgan in the English county second division, recording scores of 0, 4 and 23 from his three innings.<\/p>\n

If he's picked, there is little doubt Labuschagne will be batting for his spot in the side, which he has held permanently since 2019.<\/p>\n

How will Cameron Green fare?<\/h3>\n

Having missed the entire home summer recovering from back surgery, Cameron Green<\/a> has made a triumphant return to cricket and will almost certainly be in the XI and is firming to bat at No.3.<\/p>\n

While the aforementioned Labuschagne has struggled for Glamorgan, Green has been superb for Gloucestershire in the County competition.<\/p>\n

He scored a ton in his first innings back, and in his last two games has scored runs for fun. Against Kent, he belted 128 and then 67 not-out, and followed it up with 118 not-out and 25 against Northamptonshire.<\/p>\n

\"Cameron<\/p>\n

Regardless of who opens, Green is favoured to move into Labuschagne's spot at first drop.<\/p>\n

Green's ability with the ball and prowess at gully has proven invaluable for the Aussies on numerous occasions. But his his return to cricket has been as a batter only, and he isn't expected to return to his full bowling fitness until later in the year.<\/p>\n

Green said having just the one focus was better for \ufeffhim anyway.<\/p>\n

"I'm always going to keep bowling, but you're so much more relaxed [with] half a game to worry about," he told ESPNcricinfo.<\/p>\n

"When you're bowling and batting, there's so much more you have to do bowling wise to keep yourself fit and ready to play. It does take away from batting.<\/p>\n

"Certainly, just batting is nice."<\/p>\n

\ufeffWho is the third quick?<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As always, there's the debate about what the Aussie fast bowling cartel should look like, and it looks like the decision is down to Scott Boland or Josh Hazlewood.<\/p>\n

Selectors look as if they'll lean towards the tried and tested Starc-Cummins-Hazlewood attack, although Boland's length could make him a smart \ufeffchoice in England, where the Duke ball behaves differently to the Kookaburra.<\/p>\n

Both are fit. Hazlewood is coming off a strong IPL season, while Boland has not played since the conclusion of the Shield season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Expected Australian XI<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Alternate Australian XI 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Alternate Australian XI 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Cameron Green
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Josh Inglis
Alex Carey (wk)
Pat Cummins (c)
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood
Nathan Lyon<\/p>\n

Sam Konstas
Matt Kuhnemann
Beau Webster
Scott Boland<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Usman Khawaja
Sam Konstas
Cameron Green
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Josh Inglis
Alex Carey (wk)
Pat Cummins (c)
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Scott Boland<\/p>\n

Marnus Labuschagne
Josh Hazlewood
Beau Webster
Matt Kuhnemann<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Usman Khawaja
Sam Konstas
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Cameron Green
Travis Head
Alex Carey (wk)
Pat Cummins (c)
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Scott Boland<\/p>\n

Josh Inglis
Josh Hazlewood
Beau Webster
Matt Kuhnemann<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On the eve of the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, the final makeup of the Aussie side remains a mystery. One […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":452729,"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\/452726"}],"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=452726"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":452742,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452726\/revisions\/452742"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/452729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=452726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=452726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=452726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}