Marnus Labuschagne has been warned scores in the 30s “aren’t going to win too many matches” as Australia weighed up how many changes to make for the deciding Cape Town Test.
Labuschagne headlines a list of players potentially in the firing line after Australia’s Gqeberha nightmare, which ended in an innings-and-31-run thumping on Thursday.
Nic Maddinson’s fate appears sealed after scores of 0, 48, 0 and 8 across the first two Tests, while Beau Webster could also come under the spotlight.
Cameron Green looks ready to return from an abdominal strain after facing bowling in the nets on Thursday, while Josh Inglis is fit again. Cooper Connolly is another option.
But it is Labuschagne whose case is the most interesting, given he has gone from the world’s top-ranked batter to one century in his past 69 Test innings.
The Queenslander was briefly dropped last year, before earning a recall for the Ashes.
Labuschagne’s shot to get out on day four proved crucial as he tried to take spinner Simon Harmer on into gusty winds and was caught, with Australia going well at 1-100.
It also marked his sixth score from his past nine innings of between 30 and 49, prompting renewed calls for an extended stint in the Sheffield Shield.
“The hardest thing about opening or batting No.3 is actually getting yourself in. So he’s actually doing the hard bit. He’s getting to thirties,” captain Pat Cummins said.
“He’s got to find a way to turn those into bigger scores. Thirties aren’t going to win you too many matches.
“It’s certainly not a technique error. It’s maybe some decisions where the game demands something a little bit different. We’ll work on that, he’s hitting the ball well.
“It’s one Test left in the series, we’ve got to win this. And then obviously there’s a bit of a break before the summer.”
Australia made six changes when they were thumped by South Africa in Hobart in 2016.
But they have never dropped more than two players mid-series while Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald have been at the helm.
Asked how they would balance up the need for change ahead of a must-win match, Cummins suggested that would be weighed up.
“It’s always that delicate balance,” he said.
“Do you feel like someone’s just about to turn the corner and they’re going to be away? Or does it now feel like the right time for change?
“So that’s what will be spoken about in the next few days.
“We’ll probably have Cam Green and Josh Inglis be available for next week. I’m sure their names will get thrown around when we try to work out an XI.”
Beyond the batters, Australia must also weigh up what to do with their bowlers after Scott Boland’s 5-81 and 166-ball, second-innings resistance with the bat gave Australia hope of a draw.
Nathan Lyon will come back into the team if conditions suit, likely forcing one of Boland, Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc out.
Adding to the equation is that if Green does play, it will be as a batter only given his recent injury concerns.
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