Latest news with #Labuschagne
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
All-rounder's return to be Green light for Labuschagne
Cameron Green's return to bowling is set to grant Marnus Labuschagne a precious opportunity to resurrect his Test career during the Ashes. Allrounder Green is likely to drop back down the order for Australia when he returns to bowling, opening up dual avenues for the likes of Labuschagne and also Sam Konstas to earn batting spots against England. While Green excelled in the top three on difficult pitches during the West Indies tour, selection chair George Bailey has conceded that it would be difficult to ask Green to stay in that role once he starts bowling following back surgery last year. Green was often seen bowling at training in the Caribbean. As such, a spot further down the order, possibly tipping out Beau Webster at number six, will open opportunities for Labuschagne to return following his time out of the side. 'I think he can bat anywhere from three to six,' Bailey said of Green. 'There will be an added layer of complexity on that when he returns to the bowling crease as well, we're just working out where best suits around that. 'But the growth there, and even his play in the T20 series, you see a really structured and technically focused guy in Test cricket but also an immense array of power and freedom within that player as well. Loading 'It's always hard when you've had a long period out of the game, I think there was a little bit of that too, the nerves are there, am I still good enough and how do I play. So I thought he navigated that really well.' Adam Gilchrist is one respected figure who had questioned the long-term wisdom of keeping Green at three.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Allrounder's return to be Green light for Marnus Labuschagne
Cameron Green's return to bowling is set to grant Marnus Labuschagne a precious opportunity to resurrect his Test career during the Ashes. Allrounder Green is likely to drop back down the order for Australia when he returns to bowling, opening up dual avenues for the likes of Labuschagne and also Sam Konstas to earn batting spots against England. While Green excelled in the top three on difficult pitches during the West Indies tour, selection chair George Bailey has conceded that it would be difficult to ask Green to stay in that role once he starts bowling following back surgery last year. Green was often seen bowling at training in the Caribbean. As such, a spot further down the order, possibly tipping out Beau Webster at number six, will open opportunities for Labuschagne to return following his time out of the side. 'I think he can bat anywhere from three to six,' Bailey said of Green. 'There will be an added layer of complexity on that when he returns to the bowling crease as well, we're just working out where best suits around that. 'But the growth there, and even his play in the T20 series, you see a really structured and technically focused guy in Test cricket but also an immense array of power and freedom within that player as well. Loading 'It's always hard when you've had a long period out of the game, I think there was a little bit of that too, the nerves are there, am I still good enough and how do I play. So I thought he navigated that really well.' Adam Gilchrist is one respected figure who had questioned the long-term wisdom of keeping Green at three.
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
All-rounder's return to be Green light for Labuschagne
Cameron Green's return to bowling is set to grant Marnus Labuschagne a precious opportunity to resurrect his Test career during the Ashes. Allrounder Green is likely to drop back down the order for Australia when he returns to bowling, opening up dual avenues for the likes of Labuschagne and also Sam Konstas to earn batting spots against England. While Green excelled in the top three on difficult pitches during the West Indies tour, selection chair George Bailey has conceded that it would be difficult to ask Green to stay in that role once he starts bowling following back surgery last year. Green was often seen bowling at training in the Caribbean. As such, a spot further down the order, possibly tipping out Beau Webster at number six, will open opportunities for Labuschagne to return following his time out of the side. 'I think he can bat anywhere from three to six,' Bailey said of Green. 'There will be an added layer of complexity on that when he returns to the bowling crease as well, we're just working out where best suits around that. 'But the growth there, and even his play in the T20 series, you see a really structured and technically focused guy in Test cricket but also an immense array of power and freedom within that player as well. Loading 'It's always hard when you've had a long period out of the game, I think there was a little bit of that too, the nerves are there, am I still good enough and how do I play. So I thought he navigated that really well.' Adam Gilchrist is one respected figure who had questioned the long-term wisdom of keeping Green at three.
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
It didn't even look like cricket: Australia coach Andrew McDonald on playing Pink ball Test with Dukes ball
Despite wrapping up the Test series against West Indies with a 3-0 margin, Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald has said it is difficult to draw long-term conclusions on the team's batting performances. In a series where the bowlers dominated the proceedings with neither of the sides even posting a total of 300 in three Tests, the final one played at Sabina Park under lights with the Pink Ball saw the hosts being bowled for 27. With the conditions being bowler-friendly across conditions, McDonald who said the final Test 'didn't even look like cricket, questioned the future of Pink Ball Tests with Dukes ball. 'It's really difficult to make accurate judgments on both batting units based upon the surfaces that we played on,' McDonald told SEN Radio. 'And you take that into the third Test, which is a pink-ball Dukes on that surface, that game just moved way too fast and at times, it didn't even look like cricket. That cricket was borderline impossible to play at certain stages. Some of those deliveries from Mitchell Starc, the way that ball behaved under lights. So it's a bigger question for what the pink Dukes looks like for Test match cricket, really,' he said. The Caribbean tour was supposed to provide Australia some answers ahead of the Ashes that they are scheduled to host later this year. And McDonald said the tour has left with more questions. 'It feels as though we'll still be a little bit unsettled in terms of what our combinations look like at the top of the order with the way that the performances have gone here. In saying that, there's a lot of cricket still to come to be able to gather that information,' he said. While opener Sam Konstas' batting undoubtedly came under scrutiny, McDonald believed Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped for the series, could soon come back into the fold. With the opening slot continuing to give trouble, Labuschagne could take up the spot if Cameron Green continues to bat at No 3. If not, Australia may end up slotting Labuschagne at one down with Green pushed down the middle-order. 'I think towards the end there [before being left out], and Marnus won't mind me saying this, that there was a little bit of going backward and forward on plans and at certain stages he wasn't clear. He's got great clarity leaving here, which is a successful tour, albeit he hasn't played a game…and look forward to what he does coming into the early Shield rounds and then putting his hand up for selection for Perth. But he's a quality player. He averages 46 in Test match cricket. We feel as though this wasn't going to be a huge gap before he does return because of the quality, but the start of the Shield season will really shape that,' he said.
India Today
17-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Australia coach McDonald backs opener Sam Konstas after tough West Indies tour
Teenage opener Sam Konstas was thrust into the spotlight during Australia's Test series in the West Indies, and despite his struggles, head coach Andrew McDonald has come to his defence. The series proved challenging for the entire Australian batting unit, with unpredictable pitches and the pink Dukes ball making conditions extremely on The New Ball on SEN Radio, McDonald said it was "really difficult to make accurate judgments" about batting performances, particularly after the third Test at Sabina Park, which he felt "didn't even look like cricket" at final Test, played under lights with the pink Dukes ball, ended in dramatic fashion, heavily favouring the bowlers. "That cricket was borderline impossible to play at certain stages, some of those deliveries from Mitchell Starc, the way that ball behaved under lights it's a bigger question for what the pink Dukes looks like for Test match cricket, really," McDonald said. Despite those conditions, McDonald admitted the series had raised more questions than answers-especially regarding the top-order-just months out from the home Ashes beginning in replacing Marnus Labuschagne at the top, endured a tough debut, averaging just 8.33 across the series. He also struggled in the field, dropping catches and misfielding during West Indies' dramatic collapse for 27 in the final some have questioned whether the experience may have done more harm than good, McDonald firmly backed the 19-year-old. "I don't think anyone's damaged by being exposed to Test cricket. It gives you a taste of what that level is like and he's clear on what he needs to work on."McDonald added that Konstas' natural aggression and technique are still developing, and that the conditions in the Caribbean made his debut particularly difficult. "When you've got up-and-down seaming wickets, it can force you into those corners a lot quicker than surfaces that are batter-friendly."As for Labuschagne, who missed selection for the first time since 2019, McDonald expressed confidence he wouldn't be out of the side for long. "He averages 46 in Test match cricket. We feel as though this wasn't going to be a huge gap before he does return because of the quality."Labuschagne could potentially return as an opener, especially if Cameron Green retains the number three spot following his strong performance in the series. McDonald clarified that Labuschagne doesn't need to open for Queensland to be considered for the same role at Test level."Marnus has got great clarity leaving this tour, which is a success in itself. We look forward to what he does in the early Shield rounds," McDonald ahead, McDonald confirmed that Mitchell Starc will join captain Pat Cummins in sitting out the upcoming white-ball series in the Northern Territory against South Africa in the Ashes on the horizon and a full domestic season ahead, McDonald believes the next few months will be crucial in finalising Australia's best top-order combination.- Ends
