Former England captain Alastair Cook believes Marnus Labuschagne’s dip in form could cost Australia the Ashes unless he bounces back in the last two Tests.
Cook also said James Anderson has also struggled for England but he has an excuse in that he has had to bowl on unfriendly pitches. He is adamant Labuschagne has no reason for his struggles.
“From appearing as an injury replacement for Steve Smith at Lord’s in August 2019 through to the start of this summer he averaged 62. In his past four Tests, he averaged 26,” Cook wrote in his column for The Sunday Times.
“If he can’t reverse this decline in the next two matches then Australia’s chances of winning the series are significantly reduced.”
The record-breaking former England opener wonders whether Labuschagne is overdoing his preparation for each match and that he is muddling his thoughts.
Marnus Labuschagne has struggled in England. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
“Every professional takes his cricket seriously but Labuschagne seems particularly intense. When he is not playing he spends a lot of his time watching and thinking about the game.
“I’m not saying England have got inside his head but in Australia’s second innings in the third Test at Headingley he looked like a man struggling with himself — and his dismissal reflected that.”
Cook thinks England should promote Joe Root to first drop when the fourth Test gets underway at Manchester on Wednesday with Ben Stokes elevating himself to No.4 before Harry Brook, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow.
Broad claims it’s hard bowling to Warner
Despite dismissing him 17 times in Tests, veteran England seamer Stuart Broad claims he finds it hard bowling to his batting bunny, Australian opener David Warner.
In a column for the Mail on Sunday, the 37-year-old quick conceded he struggled early in his career against Warner and still has his work cut out for him despite employing his successful around-the-wicket strategy.
“The truth is I’ve always found it difficult bowling to Davey, and I still do. By going round the wicket I’ve tried to minimise the width he loves outside off stump, but also bowl a fuller length and make him play at 80 to 85 per cent of deliveries,” he wrote.
“He used to sit back against me and hit me through the off side, and before the 2015 Ashes our bowling coach Ottis Gibson pointed out that my average was much higher against left-handers.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“The Aussie team that season was full of lefties, and Ottis said I’d be out of the team if I didn’t find a way to bowl to them.
“I spent four months practising round the wicket. I wanted to bring the stumps into play, while still threatening the outside edge. By the time I got to Trent Bridge eight years ago I bowled round the wicket all the time — and picked up 8-15.”
Broad dismissed Warner cheaply in both innings at Headingley and the Australian left-hander is under pressure to retain his spot for the final two Tests with the Ashes on the line.
No country for makeshift openers: Harris
Marcus Harris has warned Australia’s opening role should be reserved for specialists in England as he believes elevating hard-hitting middle-order players is fraught with danger.
Australia are still mulling over their options for the fourth Ashes Test, after Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald both stopped short of guaranteeing David Warner his spot.
If Warner was to be dropped, it would likely allow Australia to play a fit-again Cameron Green and in-form Mitch Marsh to play in the same side as they pursue an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
Options would include moving either of the allrounders to the top of the order, while Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne would be alternatives.
And while it remains unlikely the 30 year-old understudy Harris will be the man to come in, the opener is well aware how difficult opening in England is.
He averaged 9.66 across three Tests in England four years ago, while the average opening stand in the country in the past four years has been 28.48.
And after spending the past three years playing county cricket in England, Harris believes it would be the toughest place for a makeshift opener.
“My experiences from county cricket are if you cop the wrong time of the day to open the batting, especially if you’re a destructive batsman it’s probably not ideal,” Harris said.
“In the subcontinent, it is probably the best time so to have someone destructive like Heady, he can open the batting there.
“But in England and in Australia, and the way the wickets have been the last couple of years and New Zealand, it’s more of a specialist position.
“You want your destructive players like Greeny or Mitch or Travis to be coming in against a bit more of an older ball.”
Harris also threw his support behind Warner, with the veteran left-hander and Usman Khawaja having got Australia off to three 50-run opening stands before his double-failure in the Headingley defeat.
Opening options Marcus Harris and David Warner. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“Davey’s obviously a bit of a lightning rod for opinion, but I think they’ve done really well as an opening partnership when you can get the team off to a good start,” Harris said.
“Even if you’re not getting the big runs you want to get, if you can still contribute to the team in some way, shape or form, I think you’re doing a job.”
Warner’s looming retirement in January has also opened the door for Harris to soon return, with selectors having made clear in recent months they view him as next in time.
Harris is confident he is an improved player on four years ago in England, with more experience around the world and in county cricket.
“I just try and be ready to go all the time. You never you never know what’s going to happen these days,” Harris said.
“Davey’s earned the right to pull the pin whenever he wants to pull the pin and he’s done well this series.
“So if I have to wait till then and then so be it but if something comes up earlier, I’m ready to go.”
with AAP
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