Cameron Green seen as 'long-term' number three for Australia, casting doubt on Marnus Labuschagne's future

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6 hours ago

Captain Pat Cummins views Cameron Green as Australia's long-term number three, spelling bad news for the axed Marnus Labuschagne as he fights to return to the Test XI.
For the series opener against West Indies in Barbados, Australia named Josh Inglis to bat at number four in place of Steve Smith, who could be back from his finger injury in time for the second Test.
Sam Konstas shifts to the top of the order to replace Labuschagne as expected in an otherwise unchanged XI from that which suffered a shock loss to South Africa in the WTC Final.
In his first Test match at number three, Green contributed a meagre first-innings score of 4, then a second-ball duck while making his Test comeback from a back injury against the Proteas at Lord's.
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But despite Green's tough return match, Australia is still keen on playing the all-rounder higher up the order than the number six where he has typically featured at Test level.
"We see that (number three) as a long-term option," Cummins said.
"Going in to last week, he's hitting the ball really well. He's moving really well. He had a Test match where it obviously didn't go to plan.
"The message is not to look too much into that. We're really happy with where his game is placed. I dare say he'll get a decent run at number three."
It looms as a setback for Labuschagne, who had been a mainstay for Australia at first drop until his axing from the set-up following one Test opening the batting in the WTC Final.
Labuschagne has averaged 27.82 with the bat for the past 12 months, well down on the 62.3 he managed across the four calendar years between 2019 and 2022.
With a glut of batting talent available, and Australia vowing to give Green its patience, Labuschagne's path back appears clouded ahead of this summer's home Ashes.
"If there's an opening, we could see him kind of fighting his way back into the Test team at some point, but obviously the focus now is giving a couple of other guys a go," Cummins said.
"He's had a pretty good run and obviously didn't make the most of it as well as he would have liked, so (we're) offering that opportunity to the next couple of guys."
Australia's batting headaches could resume as soon as next week as Smith fights to return from the dislocated finger he suffered in the WTC Final loss earlier this month.
The Test vice-captain is recovering at his New York holiday home and would likely bump Inglis from the XI should he be fit for the second Test in Grenada.
"I know the medical team have got a bit of a program for him, so no huge update," Cummins said.
"We're hoping it goes well and he'll be back here towards the end of the match, but he's got a few things to tick off."
AAP