Former Australian Test opener Greg Blewett calls for revamp to batting order in West Indies

News.com.au

5 hours ago

Marnus Labuschagne should be sent back to Australia for a spell if he misses selection for the first Test in the West Indies according to former Test opener Greg Blewett, who is also pushing for Josh Inglis to bat at No. 3 in a revamped Aussie batting line-up.
Having ceded their World Test Championship crown to South Africa, the Australian squad has turned its attention to the three Test Frank Worrell Trophy series against the Windies beginning next Thursday (AEST) in Barbados.
With Usman Khawaja backed to retain his spot at the top of the order despite twin failures against the Proteas and a trend of struggles against pace, Labuschagne is facing the axe given Sam Konstas poised to return to open for Australia's first match of the new WTC cycle.
With Usman Khawaja backed to retain his spot at the top of the order despite twin failures against the Proteas and a trend of struggles against pace, Labuschagne is facing the axe given Sam Konstas poised to return to open for Australia's first match of the new WTC cycle.
Though Steve Smith's finger injury – likely to sideline him for the first Test – potentially provides Labuschagne with a stay of execution, West Australian Inglis, who made a ton on Test debut in Sri Lanka in January, is also pushing for a recall which would mean no room for the Queenslander.
Blewett, who will be in the Carribean commentating on the series for ESPN, says backup wicketkeeper Inglis is a better option at first drop than Cameron Green, who also departed cheaply in both innings against South Africa after being elevated to that spot for the first time in his Test career.
'That look that they had in at Lord's with Usman, Marnus and Greeny, all three of them can get stuck at times. You need at least one in the top three that can sort of get the game moving a bit better. And I think Josh Inglis is the guy that can sort of play that way as well,' Blewett said.
'I don't know whether they're going to give Manus a spell or not, but if they do, then I'd probably move Trav (Head) up to four for the West Indies, maybe Green at five. Then you've got (Beau), Webster (and Alex) Carey. And if they decide to pick an extra bowler, if they want to play two spinners and three quicks, then, maybe Webster misses out and Carey bats at No. 6.'
Inglis, 30, has been a strong performer in recent times for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, but has had most of his success in red-ball cricket batting at No. 6.
The gloveman has batted at No. 3 six times for an average of just 12.66, although he has proven effective up the order in white-ball cricket for Australia.
Labuschagne, whose form has dwindled over more than two years, had been moved to the top of the order for the WTC decider but Blewett has advocated for the former world No. 1 Test batter to spend some time in Australia rather than carry the drinks in the Windies.
'If Marnus isn't going to play the first Test match, then presuming Smith is going to play Test two and three, then there's no point in him being there. Get him home. I think he needs to be in an environment where he changes what he's doing at the moment.
'I think he needs to, yeah, get home, talk to the people that are really important to him from a technical point of view, and make some adjustments.'
However Blewett's fellow ex-Test opener Joe Burns said Labuschagne deserved another chance.
'I wouldn't really shake up the team too much,' Burns said.
'Obviously with Marnus, by his own admission he's underperformed over the last year or two. 'I'm a bit biased, because I've played a lot with Marnus, but regardless of what his numbers have been over the last year or two, I still don't think that you're replacing him with a better batter right now. I still would think there's a spot for Marn (at No. 3).'
As of late Tuesday afternoon (AEST), Australian selectors had not announced whether an additional batter would be sent to the Caribbean as cover for Smith.
Smith has officially been ruled out of his planned Major League Cricket stint with Washington Freedom but will head to the Windies with the rest of the squad.
Nathan McSweeney, among the frontrunners if an extra batter is called upon, is due to be in Melbourne on Thursday for the Big Bash League draft.