Australia include Marnus Labuschagne for Sydney Test

Australia include Marnus Labuschagne for Sydney Test: Australia have added the leg-spinning all-rounder to their squad for Sydney Test.

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:

Yes he’s the answer to our batting problems 🤦‍♂️

— Mike Ballem (@mike_ballem) December 30, 2018

What does Maxwell have to do?

— Big Nonce (@evan_isme) December 30, 2018

the australian selectors have to be sacked ASAP mitch marsh has been in the test side for years cause he bowl abit now labuschagne is in the squad and going to play cause hes a part time leggie 😡

— justin (@JustinHawks) December 30, 2018

Bring him in for Marsh jnr fs

— Cricket20111 (@ChadBlundrgriss) December 30, 2018

Yeah lets pick a replacement batsmen with a worse first class record then the one who is failing miserably in the team. #AusvInd selectors need to be accountable for the shit they are putting up.

— HRLA (@soHRLA) December 30, 2018

Scrap this all-rounder farce and just pick Matt Wade at 6.

He has done enough in the Shield to warrant a spot as a specialist batsman.

— Dazza_20 (@Dazza_20) December 30, 2018

Cricket Australia destroyed Sheffield shield cricket with the introduction of the bbl. I love big bash, but it interrupts the shield season and makes more money for players and Cricket Australia. However, there are some players that should probably be picked

— Butt Blocker (@butt_blocker) December 30, 2018

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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