WTC Final | Ponting predicts Labuschagne to open to accommodate Green in Australian XI
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has touted Marnus Labuschagne to open in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's, beginning June 11. Ponting believes Australia will trust its core heading into the one-off game and included Josh Hazlewood over Scott Boland.
Australia will go into their second WTC final as the defending champions after having scripted a victory over India in 2023, and would hope to become the first team to go back-to-back in the tournament. The Men from Down Under have enjoyed great success of late, defeating India 3-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home before securing a 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the subcontinent to confirm their place in the summit clash.
However, the opening slot remains for grabs post David Warner's retirement, after a brief experiment with Steve Smith up top failed to bring about the desired results. Thereafter, Nathan McAndrew and Sam Konstas shared the responsibility against the Men in Blue while Travis Head was pushed up the order in Asia. To compound selection problems, Cameron Green has also returned from an extended stay on the sidelines and is ready to feature as a specialist batter, having struck two tons and a half-century in a three-match County stint with Gloucester.
Nevertheless, former skipper Ricky Ponting is of the opinion that a new contender altogether in Marnus Labuschagne will become the latest man to don the opener's hat.
"I have just got a bit of a feeling that Marnus Labuschagne might be pushed up the order to open the batting with Khawaja," Ponting declared.
Labuschagne has endured a horrific WTC cycle, averaging 28.33 in 19 Tests and scoring a solitary century in the process. The batter then had a two-match stint with Glamorgan in order to prepare against the Dukes, but managed just 27 runs in three innings. However, Ponting has pointed out that such questions were rife before the 2023 final as well with regards to Warner but the team management chose to stick with their long-term servant.
"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," Ponting explained.
"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 thing...all will be revealed in the next couple of weeks."
Labuschagne's move up the order will allow Green to slot in at three in Ponting's lineup, while Beau Webster would feature as the pace all-rounder and Josh Hazlewood the third specialist seamer.
"I think Green will bat at three and Steve Smith will be at four. Then it's Travis Head five, Beau Webster six, Carey at seven, Cummins eight, Starc nine and Lyon 10. And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood [versus Scott] Boland one. 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," he concluded his lineup.
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