Strange Marnus training move raises questions as pressure builds on Test spot

As the pressure on Marnus Labuschagne’s Test position continues to build, a curious training move in Galle on Tuesday has done nothing to quieten the noise surrounding his position.

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Australian reporters noted during the main training session that Labuschagne moved from his regular early batting position in the nets.

Instead of facing Australia’s frontline tweakers in Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann, Labuschagne spent the first part of the session bowling off-breaks.

He then took to centre wicket where, along with Nathan McSweeney, he faced quicks Scott Boland and Sean Abbott, Code Sports reports.

None of those three players featured in the first Test, and none are expected to be picked for the second either.

Labuschagne and McSweeney then batted in the nets later facing only local spinners and Australian bowling coach Dan Vettori.

The Age reports that the latter part of Labuschagne’s session was closely watched by selector Tony Dodemaide.

READ MORE: Konstas leaves Sri Lanka early as Aussies prepared for ‘baking’ second Test pitch

Labuschagne is expected to keep his spot for Thursday’s second Test with reserve batter Sam Konstas being flown home this week — though Cooper Connolly remains waiting on the sidelines for a baggy green.

Nonetheless, the No.3 is skating on ice that’s thinning by the Test with runs growing increasingly hard to come by since his golden run from mid-2019 to the summer of 2022/2023.

That stretch saw Labuschagne make 2,940 runs at 65.33 while he scored 10 of his 11 Test centuries.

Since, he is averaging just 30.40, while he’s made just one triple-figure score in his past 49 Test innings for Australia.

What makes Labuschagne’s position more ominous is the looming return of Cameron Green by the time Australia next plays a Test match — the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June.

Furthermore, multiple other Australian Test batting contenders have emerged since the start of the summer, adding to the competition for spots.

Konstas and McSweeney both made Test debuts as openers, and remain in the mix. All-rounder Beau Webster impressed on his own debut to take a spot in the middle-order, while Josh Inglis scored a century in his first Test to prove his credentials as a batting specialist, and not just as a wicketkeeper-batter.

Combined with the nailed on spots of Steve Smith, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, there becomes little doubt that Labuschagne is now fighting for his Australian career.

Head noted to reporters that come the time of the WTC final, spots will come at an extra premium.

“I’m glad I’m not a selector,” Head said.

“Josh has had an amazing start, guys are playing well, Greeny’s going to be fit.

“So it’s going to be hard to fit in and I think that’s what we want. We want an Australian cricket team that’s tough to get in, where everyone’s pushing for spots.

“That’s where the pressure comes, trying to hold your spot every Test knowing there’s people behind you.

“So we’re in a strong position. It’s better having seven or eight batters talked about than three or four.”

Meanwhile, Australia got its first look at the pitch for the second Test, with Head saying that it looks like it will be tougher to bat on that what was rolled out for the first.

“It probably looks a little bit dry but looks a really good wicket still,” he said.

“As we know, over the next couple of days we’ll see how that plays out and where we get to on the first morning. It probably looks like it’s got a little bit less grass on it than the previous Test. It looks really good at the moment.

“We’ve still got two days so I guess anything could play out in these conditions. The sun’s out now so it’s baking at the moment.

“It’s whether we can weigh up when that shift comes and be able to be ready and adapt to that. It looks like it’ll take spin early.”