Marnus Labuschagne Faces Challenges in County Cricket Comeback: A ‘Perilous Downward Trend’ Leaves Him Exposed

With just a fortnight remaining before Australia faces off against South Africa for the World Test Championship, two pressing questions continue to loom large.

Who will take the role of opening batsman? And where does Cameron Green fit into the team?

These inquiries are closely linked.

Speculation suggests that Sam Konstas may be left out, making way for Marnus Labuschagne to step up as an opener.

However, Labuschagne’s recent form has been slipping.

Since the arrival of his second child, Labuschagne made his return to cricket with Glamorgan.

He recorded scores of 0 and 4 against Northamptonshire, followed by 23 against Middlesex, with each dismissal coming from catches in the slips. Kagiso Rabada must be eager to exploit this.

On The Grandstand Cricket Podcast, former Test opener Ed Cowan remarked that the modified conditions in England force players to be wary of lbw decisions.

“This has become the hot topic—whether he opens the batting or even retains his spot in the team. The modes of dismissal are crucial,” he noted.

“In England, at the top order, the concern over lbw, low bounce, and the potential for late movement can lead players to alter their stance slightly, inadvertently bringing the outside edge into play.

“These persistent adjustments are especially prevalent when a batsman is not moving as freely as desired, causing more anxiety about getting out than actually scoring runs, given the different conditions.

“… I think things are not looking good for him regarding selection come June 11. I still believe he remains above the selection line at this point, but it’s definitely a topic of discussion.”

For Labuschagne, this downward trend has been ongoing for some time.

His last century was recorded in July 2023, and although he has made significant contributions since, such as two 70s against India in the Boxing Day Test, concern is mounting.

“We’ve been discussing this for two years. For two years, he’s been under scrutiny for not being the player we first saw emerge,” Cowan added.

“Initially, there was a conversation around how well he was playing, but he was often considered fortunate. It seems now that his luck has run out, with catches being taken and the opposing strategies becoming more precise.

“… He ought to be averaging around 45 in Tests, but this slump has gone on for too long. He needs to revitalise his game to start scoring those big hundreds… he possesses immense talent and ability.”

“The evident flaw is his continual need to tinker, never finding comfort in his technique. When we compare him to Steve Smith, who can adapt his technique to different conditions yet maintains a base method, Labuschagne’s incessant adjustments lead him down a precarious path.

“Without a solid foundational technique to revert to, he seems to be in a constant state of searching, which could spiral into a serious issue.”

Adding further pressure on Labuschagne is the resurgence of Cameron Green.

In his comeback from injury, Green has notched up two centuries for Gloucester, beginning with 112 against Kent, and just recently scoring 128 and an unbeaten 67 against the same team.

These runs further complicate the selectors’ choices.

Green will take on a purely batting role due to injury concerns; the current Australian batting lineup comprises Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Beau Webster.

Webster has made an impressive start to his Test career and, although his performance at Warwickshire hasn’t been stellar, he’s not expected to miss out on selection.

Smith, Head, and Khawaja are all guaranteed spots. This leaves Konstas, Green, and Labuschagne to battle it out for two available spots, with Josh Inglis also in contention.

Given the selectors’ historical loyalty to Labuschagne, coupled with his underappreciated value as a fielder, it’s likely he will edge out Konstas, with Green also expected to play.

Chairman of selectors George Bailey hinted, “I think he could do it,” regarding Labuschagne’s potential to open when the WTC squad was announced, but he did not confirm the plan outright.

A disappointing performance in the Championship could lead to an intriguing tour of the West Indies ahead.