BRISBANE: Former Australia captain Michael Clarke on Wednesday said no one can ignore Marnus Labuschagne as he is batting at one of the toughest positions in Test cricket.
Following Labuschagne’s poor performance against the West Indies in the recently concluded two-match Test series, Clarke said the 29-year-old number three batsman will be in work ahead of the upcoming longer format series against New Zealand.
The former cricketer told everyone not to be surprised if Labuschagne becomes the “leading run-scorer” against the Kiwis.
“Again, he is such a good player, he will go on now, he will work on it before New Zealand. You cannot ignore Marnus. He is batting at No. 3 which is one of the toughest positions in Test cricket. “Don’t be surprised if he takes the field against New Zealand and scores the most runs,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Clarke as saying. Almost every top-class batsman goes through this kind of situation.”
The two-match Test series between Australia and New Zealand will begin on February 29 and end on March 8, with the matches to be played in Wellington and Christchurch respectively.
The former Australian captain pointed out where the right-handed batsman lacks technically and said he is “working with his right shoulder”.
“The only thing I can see technically is that he seems to be raising his right shoulder a little bit. So mainly the balls that are back-of-a-length are actually staying on the side. Instead of running up like he does and defending to cover or point the back-foot ball, or even drop it at his feet, he’s just teeing it up a bit. And that’s why. He is playing a bit in front of him, taking it to second, third [slip], gully area,” he said.
In the Test series between Australia and West Indies, Labuschagne scored only 19 runs after taking part in both the matches.
Missing the second Test match, the Gabba fortress was breached again as the Caribbeans secured their first Test win on Australian soil after 27 years.
Although Steven Smith remained unbeaten on 91 off 146 balls in the second innings, his efforts went in vain as the Australian team failed to reach the target of 216 runs. The fourth day of the second Test began with Smith and Cameron Green opening for the Australian team, with the hosts’ score at 60/2. However, the batsmen could not form solid partnerships against the Caribbean bowling attack.
Joseph achieved his first success of the day when he dismissed Green for 42 runs in the 31st over. In the same over, he dismissed star Australian batsman Travis Head for a duck to take the early advantage.
As the session progressed, Joseph performed brilliantly and dismissed the Australian top order by dismissing Mitchell Marsh (10 runs off 12 balls), Alex Carey (2 runs off 5 balls), Mitchell Starc (21 runs off 14 balls). done. And Pat Cummins (2 runs off 8 balls) in the 43rd over.
‘No one can ignore Marnus Labuschagne’, says Michael Clarke
