Australia’s loss against Bangladesh in Darwin in the first of the two-Test series has put a spotlight on some of its players, most though, on two of the top three batsmen: Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald.
While Weatherald, who made his Test debut in the Ashes and averages 20 in six Tests, is inexperienced, Labuschagne is an experienced candidate.
The 32-year-old right-hander has been given a long rope by the Australian selectors and management, as they believe that he could become the lynchpin of the batting after Steve Smith, 37, retires or wanes. He has also been backed in the ODI team, as Smith is retired from the format, to come good despite disappointing returns.
Labuschagne’s position is on the brink and has been for the last few years. He was dropped last year from the tour of the West Indies following the ICC WTC final defeat but forced his way back into the side on the back of five hundreds in 9 knocks for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and a List-A tournament.
It’s been a long while indeed since he’s been underwhelming with the bat in the longest format, and his century drought has extended for over three years.
AUS vs BAN: When Was The Last Time Marnus Labuschagne Hit A Test Century?
Labuschagne has hit 11 Test centuries so far, the last of which came in July 2023 against England in Manchester in the 2023 Ashes. His last Test hundred at home came in December 2022 in Adelaide against the West Indies.
Labuschagne has not registered a Test hundred in 42 innings and over three years. In this period, he’s averaged only 25 with nine half-centuries to show.
He scored 1 and 31 against Bangladesh in Darwin. He had worked on his technique in the last few months, but, coach Andrew McDonald reckoned, “ultimately it’s 31,” even though he looked good in his time at the crease in the second innings.
McDonald said, “We want runs is the bottom line. I think it was 31 he got in the second innings, and up until the point he got out, you’d sit there and say he was looking good.
“He was moving well, he’s clipping off his pads, he was getting back through the ball down the ground. So it’s easy for me to sit here and try to defend that, but ultimately it’s 31. It’s not a big score. He’s lacked runs. He feels that. We feel that. We’re working incredibly hard as a coaching group.”
“He’s disappointed of that missed opportunity. He needs some big runs,” the Aussie coach added.
AUS vs BAN: When is the Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test?
The Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test will be played from August 22 in Mackay.
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