‘Nightmare' ‘last-chance saloon' Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne might not play Ashes, say Ian Healy and Jason Gillespie
Marnus Labuschagne is under pressure to hold his spot in Australian Test side after the WTC final capped a poor run of form in the recent times. The former pacer Jason Gillespie has said that the upcoming series in West Indies might be Labuschagne's last if he doesn't perform. Former wicketkeeper Ian Healy has sent out warning to Usman Khawaja, saying he can't coast till Ashes.
'If you [Khawaja] limp to the end of your career and the last series you're hanging out for is the Ashes, it's going to be a nightmare,' Healy told SEN radio. 'England are coming. They're coming for us big time. They're picking the right style of bowler and they're looking at batsmen who can prosper in Australian conditions. They are going so specific (with selection) that they are going to be all over us. If you're not right on the top of your energy levels and your technique – which we're not at the moment – you're going to get hurt. In your last series if you're not there, if you thought it was going to be fun, it's a nightmare,' Healy said on Khawaja.
Gillespie turned the heat on Labuschagne. 'If he [Labuschagne] does play in the Caribbean, I think it's definitely last chance saloon, there's no doubt about that,' Gillespie told SEN radio. 'I think if he doesn't perform strongly, then I think he's at a real risk of not playing in the Ashes.'
It's not just his recent form that has been worrying Gillespie. 'Over the last two years, he's averaged in the mid-20s and he's got only one hundred.But I suspect either one of Usman or Marnus will miss out in the West Indies. That's my estimation.'
At the WTC final, Cameron Green, who had made his comeback after months of recuperating from injury, had batted at No.3 and failed. He was caught in the slips in both innings, poking at deliveries. In the second innings, he walked down the track but yet again had a fatal poke.
'With Steve Smith locked into No. 4 and Travis Head at No. 5 when fully fit, that leaves No. 3 as the last non-opening spot for a specialist batsman in the Test XI for the Ashes,' Gillespie said, in case Labuschagne doesn't make it for the Ashes.
'I know that Steve Smith's best position is at four and I think Travis Head's best position is at five. I think those guys are pretty set,' Gillespie said. 'So, I think ultimately that the selectors have got to decide: Is Jos Inglis the best man to do the job at three, or is Marnus the best man to do the job at three?
Gillespie wants the selectors to look at the best performer in domestic cricket.
'Reward some performers in domestic cricket with either an opener or a number three who has performed strongly in Sheffield Shield cricket to promote one of those players to bat at three.'
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