Australia include Marnus Labuschagne for Sydney Test: Australia have added the leg-spinning all-rounder to their squad for Sydney Test.
Advertisement
All-rounder Marnus Labuschagne has found a place in Australia’s Test squad as he has been added as the 14th member of the side. Having announced a 13-member squad for the last two Tests, Australia must have taken the call due to the spin-friendly conditions in Sydney.
The decision has also come as an aftermath of Australia’s 137-run loss against India in the third Test at Melbourne. With all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (scoring 9 and 10 in two innings and bowling 26 wicket-less overs in the match) failing yet again at the highest level, it is a potential sign of replacing him with Labuschagne.
Labuschagne, 24, had made his Test debut against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi earlier this year. A drastic change in conditions back home didn’t require Australia to play three spinners. Hence, Labuschagne wasn’t included in the Test squad.
It was Australia Test captain Tim Paine, who announced the development during the post-match press conference. “We’ll get up to Sydney and have a look at the conditions,” Paine was quoted as saying.
“From what we’re hearing, it’ll probably spin quite a bit so once we see that for ourselves, we’ll start to think about the best combination for ourselves to win that Test,” he added.
While Paine didn’t confirm much about who will Labuschagne replace, he believed that Australia have the best group of players available at the moment. “We think we’ve got the best group of players available to us at the moment and we’ll pick the best combination for that group that we think will win the last Test,” he concluded.
Apart from bowling legbreaks, Labuschagne has it in him to contribute with the bat as well. If he playes at No. 6, Australia will be hoping for him to play the dual role in the New Year’s Test.
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on his inclusion below:
