Latest news with #MarnusLabuschagne
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ricky Ponting questions move for WTC final as Sam Konstas and Scott Boland cop blow
Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting feels Sam Konstas and Scott Boland will miss out on selection for the World Test Championship final despite not necessarily agreeing with Marnus Labuschagne's potential promotion up the order. Cameron Green is set to make an immediate return to the Aussie X to take on South Africa at Lord's on 11 June after returning from a back injury. Despite missing the test series against India over the summer, Green has returned in strong form during a second-division County cricket stint. The allrounder has blasted a number of centuries and is likely to slot back into the starting XI. However, Green's return is going to force someone out. And despite plenty of calls for it to be Labuschagne, who is on an extended lean run of form, Ponting believes the unfortunate player could be Konstas. Labushagne has struggled for runs across the last 18 months having failed with the bat against India and Sri Lanka last summer. The No.3 batter averaged just 25.36 across the two series and has so far failed in his County cricket move. The former World No.1 Test batter is woefully out of form, but there are suggestions the selectors will keep him in the side and move him up to opener to accomodate the return of Green. And despite questioning the move, Ponting feels the Aussie team will do just that. "I actually think that that will go with Labuschagne," Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast. "Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that. "And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final. Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod. "Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different will be revealed in the next couple of weeks." Ponting believes Green will slot in at No.3, while Smith will remain at No.4. This will see Konstas miss out after making his exciting debut during the series against India. Ponting also weighed-in on the exclusion of Boland. Boland took over Josh Hazlewood's position during the India series and starred at the MCG and SCG to help Australia surge to victory. Hazlewood failed to play the final two tests due to a back injury, but has returned to the IPL in sensational form. The Aussie quick has been the best bowler of the T20 tournament and he was also arguably the best of the Australian quartet across the last 18 months, before his injury. Hazlewood missed his side's last three games due to a shoulder issue, but the quick stamped his Test claims with a superb spell of bowling against Ponting's Punjab Kings to brush off any injury concerns. And while it will be hard on Boland, Ponting feels the selectors will remain faithful to Hazlewood for the one-off test with South Africa. "And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood (versus) Boland one," Ponting added. "It's a really tough selection every time because every time Boland plays, he just does so well. But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back into the team." Australia's Test No.3 has faced growing calls to be axed for next month's showpiece red-ball final against South Africa at Lord's with his form dropping off a cliff. Labuschagne only averaged 25.36 with the bat across the summer, after disappointing Test series against India and Sri Lanka. That came after an equally underwhelming previous year for Labuschagne, where he averaged just 27.08 across the summer of 2023/24. And the 30-year-old only managed scores of 23, 0 and 61 in his three Sheffield Shield innings for Queensland after those Test series.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Muddled mess': Key factor in Marnus' fate
Australian coach Andrew McDonald says a decision on playing an all-rounder in the World Test Championship final will determine if one of Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne misses out as selectors weigh up doing something 'we've never done before' at Lord's and promote Labuschagne to opener. McDonald was adamant the 'muddled mess' leading into the game, including players fleeing India after the IPL was delayed by a fleeting military incident, won't impede preparations for the clash with South Africa. About to fly to the team camp in the UK at an 'undisclosed location', McDonald said selectors had a preferred starting XI mapped out but with 'multiple names in different positions'. He said Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja 'had been discussed' amid concern making such a major move in a big game could 'unsettle the team'. But McDonald also flagged that resurgent Cameron Green, coming off three county cricket centuries, could also bat at the top of the order, with final decisions to be made as close to three days before the June 11 start. 'He could bat anywhere,' McDonald said of Green, not hiding his excitement at the boom batter's brilliant return from career-saving back surgery. 'He could be three, he could be five, he could be six, he could open. 'I think he's got the temperament, the skillset, the defensive play as well. The higher up you go defensive skills are a priority, and he's got all bases covered. He plays the short ball well. 'You're not going to get a negative word from the coach about Cameron Green.' McDonald said bedding down an opening combination to take the team forward was a priority after 'moving parts' through the series against India and then Sri Lanka 'weren't ideal'. Konstas lost his spot in Sri Lanka, and could yet keep Labuschagne, who made 27 runs in three middling county cricket innings for Glamorgan, out of the side, pending the need to pick all-rounder Beau Webster to boost the bowling stocks at Lord's with Green still unable to bowl. McDonald said Konstas, who was part of the team camp in Brisbane, had made some technical changes after a poor end to the domestic season, adamant his 'journey' would end with him being a much better player. 'There's an 11 on a board but it has dashes with multiple names in different positions,' McDonald said on SEN. 'As we put the squad together the first part is to have a 15, to give yourself all options. 'Do we need to play the all-rounder That will then shuffle batting positions. We are quite flexible in our approach to that. 'It will depend on the all-rounder. If you need the all-rounder in the conditions, that would then lend itself to a decision around the top order. It will be how much we prioritise the bowling element. 'We've got roughly what we think it might look like, then there will be some decisions when we get to the pointy end. We'll try to give clarity to the players the closer we get.' McDonald also confirmed that only one of Josh Hazlewood, who has returned to India to play in the IPL finals, or Scott Boland would play at Lord's. The coach said while some players coming off long lay-offs and others off T20 cricket wasn't 'perfect', it also wasn't anything new. 'We have seven days of training. It will be good to see everyone come back together … it's a muddled mess in terms of the prep,' he said. 'It always causes you unease when there is a T20 tournament right up to the start of the WTC. I'm not saying it's perfect having people all over the world, but we are well versed in preparing players remotely, having guys with us, and bringing that all together. 'This has been a two-year journey, right back to the last WTC final. This is a priority for our group, they have zeroed in on it.'
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Australian selectors discuss moving Marnus Labuschagne to open in World Test Championship final
Australian coach Andrew McDonald says a decision on playing an all-rounder in the World Test Championship final will determine if one of Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne misses out as selectors weigh up doing something 'we've never done before' at Lord's and promote Labuschagne to opener. McDonald was adamant the 'muddled mess' leading into the game, including players fleeing India after the IPL was delayed by a fleeting military incident, won't impede preparations for the clash with South Africa. About to fly to the team camp in the UK at an 'undisclosed location', McDonald said selectors had a preferred starting XI mapped out but with 'multiple names in different positions'. He said Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja 'had been discussed' amid concern making such a major move in a big game could 'unsettle the team'. But McDonald also flagged that resurgent Cameron Green, coming off three county cricket centuries, could also bat at the top of the order, with final decisions to be made as close to three days before the June 11 start. 'He could bat anywhere,' McDonald said of Green, not hiding his excitement at the boom batter's brilliant return from career-saving back surgery. 'He could be three, he could be five, he could be six, he could open. 'I think he's got the temperament, the skillset, the defensive play as well. The higher up you go defensive skills are a priority, and he's got all bases covered. He plays the short ball well. 'You're not going to get a negative word from the coach about Cameron Green.' McDonald said bedding down an opening combination to take the team forward was a priority after 'moving parts' through the series against India and then Sri Lanka 'weren't ideal'. Konstas lost his spot in Sri Lanka, and could yet keep Labuschagne, who made 27 runs in three middling county cricket innings for Glamorgan, out of the side, pending the need to pick all-rounder Beau Webster to boost the bowling stocks at Lord's with Green still unable to bowl. McDonald said Konstas, who was part of the team camp in Brisbane, had made some technical changes after a poor end to the domestic season, adamant his 'journey' would end with him being a much better player. 'There's an 11 on a board but it has dashes with multiple names in different positions,' McDonald said on SEN. 'As we put the squad together the first part is to have a 15, to give yourself all options. 'Do we need to play the all-rounder That will then shuffle batting positions. We are quite flexible in our approach to that. 'It will depend on the all-rounder. If you need the all-rounder in the conditions, that would then lend itself to a decision around the top order. It will be how much we prioritise the bowling element. 'We've got roughly what we think it might look like, then there will be some decisions when we get to the pointy end. We'll try to give clarity to the players the closer we get.' McDonald also confirmed that only one of Josh Hazlewood, who has returned to India to play in the IPL finals, or Scott Boland would play at Lord's. The coach said while some players coming off long lay-offs and others off T20 cricket wasn't 'perfect', it also wasn't anything new. 'We have seven days of training. It will be good to see everyone come back together … it's a muddled mess in terms of the prep,' he said. 'It always causes you unease when there is a T20 tournament right up to the start of the WTC. I'm not saying it's perfect having people all over the world, but we are well versed in preparing players remotely, having guys with us, and bringing that all together. 'This has been a two-year journey, right back to the last WTC final. This is a priority for our group, they have zeroed in on it.'
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Cameron Green's third county cricket century creates serious selection questions ahead of World Test Championship final
Cameron Green peeled off a third county cricket century as spinner Matt Kuhnemann took six wickets in a one-off appearance and Travis Head left the IPL with a bang in positive signs for the Australian trio ahead of the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Selection decisions loom large for Australia ahead of the clash with South Africa on June 11 as pressure grows to get Green back into the team after he missed the entire home summer due to back surgery. Green blasted 118 in his latest effort for Gloucestershire, taking his average from eight county knocks to 73.67 from 442 runs. Against Kent he blasted 128 and an unbeaten 67 in the same game, showing an affinity for the local conditions after making 112 in his first innings since September. Green's been included in Australia's 15-player WTC final squad to play as a batter only and is amping up the heat on Test teammate Marnus Labuschagne, who began his county campaign with Glamorgan with a duck and managed just 23 in his latest effort. Labuschagne has been touted as a possible opening option, with Green able to bat anywhere from three to six, as part of a batting order that will include red-hot Head, who blasted 76 off 40 balls in his final outing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Head finished the tournament with 376 runs, behind only Mitch Marsh's 560 among Australians in the IPL, and will get in ample preparation in the UK with his Sunrisers not involved in the delayed finals. The Australian Test batters aren't the only ones in form, with left-arm spinner Kuhnemann, back playing after having his action cleared following a report in Sri Lanka, ripping through the Middlesex batting order in Cardiff. 5 WICKETS ON DEBUT FOR MATT KUHNEMANN ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'� The Australian spinner spun a web at Sophia Gardens against Middlesex in his debut match for the Club 🙌 WATCH LIVE: #GLAMvMID #OhGlammyGlammy — Glamorgan Cricket ðŸ�† (@GlamCricket) May 25, 2025 Playing just the single game for Glamorgan with Labuschagne before joining the Australian Test camp, Kuhnemann returned figures of 6-53 as his team cruised to a 10-wicket victory. Kuhnemann is the second spinner in the Australian squad, behind Nathan Lyon as first-choice tweaker.
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Marnus falls, Green fires in County
Cricket: There have been contrasting fortunes for Australian's in the County cricket with Cameron Green hitting a ton while Marnus Labuschagne failed to fire.
