AUS v IND 2020-21: Marnus Labuschagne prepared to bat wherever Australia need

Middle-order batsman Labuschagne could be promoted up the order for the first Test against India.

Marnus Labuschagne | GettyAustralia's rising young batsman Marnus Labuschagne informed there hasn't been any communication from the team management with regards to his batting slot but said he is more than happy to play any role that skipper Tim Paine and head coach Justin Langer ask of him. 

With David Warner and Will Pucovski already ruled out of the first Test in Adelaide starting next Thursday (December 17) and Joe Burns battling poor form, the possibility of Labuschagne, otherwise a middle-order player, being asked to open has certainly risen. 

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"No, there has not been (any talk on batting position) ... currently I think number three. But I am just preparing to bat, if that's No.1 or No.3, it doesn't matter. I am ready to face the ball, no matter what the circumstances are," said the 26-year-old during a virtual press conference, as quoted by PTI

"Look, I finished last summer at three, so hopefully at three. But my job is to face the ball that is coming down to me wherever I am batting."

"If the team needs me to open, that's what I will do. It's a team sport, it's about winning games. We'll have to wait and see how things pan out with a few other moving parts currently," added Labuschagne, who has been outstanding since the last year's Ashes. 

Labuschagne said he is prepared to face the Indian pacemen with the pink-ball under lights after getting a sighter of them during the one-dayers. 

"We're obviously prepared. We played (Jasprit) Bumrah in one-dayers and in the last ODI he really ramped it up and bowled very well. For us, we know who we are coming up against."

"So, it's just making sure we are really focussed and understand what bowlers are doing. We know which bowlers we are playing (against) and we make sure that we prepare accordingly."

"One thing that makes our batters that good is that we're facing the best bowling attack in and out during training. The likes of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and (James) Pattinson, they are unbelievable bowlers. Facing them every training session ensures we prepare as good as we possibly can be at Test level."

A useful part-time leg-spin option, Labuschagne is also ready to shoulder the attack's burden in case the team require that. 

"I have been the fifth bowling option for the last five series, so it is no different than any other test match that I have played. I am making sure that I am always ready to bowl and I like the opportunity when I do get to bowl," he signed off. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 12 Dec, 2020

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