Audition could swing Marnus vs Konstas; Green surge to spark Aussie shake-up: State of play

It is a rare occasion when a domestic match abroad carries significant implications for Australia, but that will be the case when Glamorgan meets Middlesex in a match beginning on Friday in Wales.

While South Africa has turned to a rugby union World Cup hero for inspiration ahead of the World Test Championship final beginning in 20 days, Australia faces a familiar conundrum.

Almost 18 months on from the retirement of swashbuckling opener David Warner, Australia is yet to find a permanent Test partner for veteran Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.

From Steve Smith last summer to Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas against India and on to Travis Head in Sri Lanka, Australia has pursued different options without enduring success. Now Marnus Labuschagne shapes as the next cab off the rank.

But the Queenslander, who has been mooted as the new partner for Khawaja against South Africa in the World Test Championship, is yet to gorge on runs for Glamorgan since returning to the crease in County Cricket.

A pair of failures against Northamptonshire last week has added to the spotlight on Labuschagne for his final county outing prior to the WTC. Should he fail again, there will be more questions as to whether he is the right man for the job.

Former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming is not convinced and believes Konstas is the long-term solution, saying the intent he showed against India was positive during the summer.

“What I like about Konstas is his scoring rate,” Fleming said on Melbourne radio this week.

“We saw early in the Indian series, when Nathan McSweeney was opening with Usman and Marnus (was) at No.3, at times they battled really hard, but if they lost one or two the scoreboard was nowhere.”

Sam Konstas remains in the mix to return to the top of the order.

But at least Labuschagne can take confidence from his stellar deeds in the corresponding clash in 2024 against Middlesex.

The 30-year-old was able to make 111 in the second innings of that match, but this time around he will face South African seamer Dane Paterson in a test of his form and confidence ahead of the WTC final.

The 36-year-old is among the six fast bowlers the Proteas have selected in their squad as they seek to clinch their first ICC trophy in men’s cricket since 1988. And Paterson is firing in matches played at Lord’s this season.

He has taken ten wickets in four matches for Middlesex so far, with nine of them coming at the home of cricket, continuing on from the form he showed when taking a career-best five wickets in a Test against Pakistan last December.

But irrespective of how Labuschagne fares in his final County hit out, Fleming believes he will earn the nod against South Africa.

“My gut feeling is that they’ll stick with Marnus but I would actually go with Konstas,” Fleming told SEN.

But Fleming challenged a suggestion from Australia’s Chairman of Selectors George Bailey that it is not imperative to have a specialist opener at the top of the order and said that “in an ideal world I would like to see us reward Sheffield Shield openers into the Test team.”

Despite his audacious approach against India, Konstas fits that bill and has played more conservatively at stages in his fledgling career.

Fleming believes it is a bonus to have an opener capable of changing tempo if required.

“We saw in Melbourne in that stunning first innings when Konstas gets out, we’re virtually 100 and the game is set up,” Fleming said.

“Even his little cameos in Sydney … those quick 20s just accelerated the game and Usman can play within himself.

“I would like for them to go with Konstas. He’s the future. We want to get games into him and his scoring rate sets up Test matches.

“Dave Warner was doing that for us for many years, (Virender) Sehwag did it for India, (Chris) Gayle for the West Indies – I mean everyone is doing it in ‘Bazball’.

“The more he plays, hopefully he finds that tempo between T20 innovation and just orthodox cricket, which he looks like he is orthodox but he does have genuine power. I think he will end up a big, strong boy.”

South Africa will tune up for the WTC Final with a four day clash against Zimbabwe beginning on June 3, while the Aussies arrive in London a day later, giving them a week to prepare for the final step of a two-year defence of the WTC title they claimed in 2023.

The WTC decider and the subsequent West Indies tour could well decide the Australian batting order for the opening Test of the Ashes against England in Perth in six months time.

THE GRASS IS GREENER IN ENGLAND

The top order battle had initially been billed as a problem of trying to slot three batters into two spots, but Cameron Green has surely cemented his spot at No.3 after a brilliant return in England.

After missing the entire Test summer with a back injury, the Western Australian has been in superb touch with Gloucestershire and looked stronger with each innings at the crease.

With Smith turning back the clock last summer after returning to No.4, Green has made a compelling case to don the Baggy Green once again after a commanding century against Kent, which is his second for the UK summer.

Cameron Green making a century for Gloucestershire. Source: X/Gloucestershire Cricket @Gloscricket

But with Bailey flagging during a recent media call that Green will not be asked to bowl until the Ashes, Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster looms as a likely starter at Lord’s after maintaining the outstanding form that earned him a Baggy Green last summer.

Webster made 41 and 18 in his most recent knocks for Warwickshire against Hampshire in a match where he also secured six wickets.

The 31-year-old, who opened his County cricket campaign with an 85 against Yorkshire at the start of May, has made 165 at an average of 41 while securing eight wickets to date.

THE ‘HOFF’ WATCH

Extrapolating T20 form to Test cricket is always questionable but in the case of champion bowler Josh Hazlewood, selectors were pleased to see the ‘Bendemeer Bullet’ flourish again in India.

After a difficult summer, where the New South Welshman succumbed to injury and missed three Tests, the 34-year-old looked in good nick for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

While it is reported Hazlewood has a slight shoulder niggle, it seems certain he will be preferred alongside Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc for the final against South Africa.

Not for the first time, this would leave Scott Boland as the unlucky reserve, with his misfortune highlighted by the brilliance he demonstrated against India during a stunning summer at home.

Should he miss selection, the Victorian will not be the only Test representative who can consider themselves unlucky to miss the XI based on their recent form.

Josh Inglis made a century on debut against Sri Lanka in Galle and is averaging 51 in Test cricket, but barring a major rethink at the top of the order, he will wait for the West Indies.

MELBOURNE, DECEMBER 23, 2023: Australian Cricket Team training at the MCG ahead of the Boxing Day Test. Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland. Picture: Mark Stewart

WHAT IMPACT HAS THE IPL RESCHEDULING HAD ON THE FINALISTS?

South Africa’s hopes of starting their preparations a fortnight out from the WTC Final were dealt a blow when stars competing in the IPL were reminded of their contractual duties.

Hours after the nation’s director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said non-obligation contracts would not be delayed beyond May 25, which was when the IPL was originally supposed to finish, there was a change of thinking.

With eight members of the Proteas competing in India, Nkwe said he had been overruled and the Test squad would convene as soon as possible prior to the June 3 clash with Zimbabwe.