Australia cricket team, too, is having troubles with its number 4 position. There is a looming uncertainty about what kind of player they want at this position. For last 10-12 months, Marnus Labuschagne was provided the opportunity to showcase his fine cricketing in ODI cricket talent but as good as player he is, still he struggled to seal the spot for the big tournament.
However, the story is not over yet for Marnus but numbers on his back don’t support his arguement when he said that he is still the right person for the number 4 spot in the Australian team. Before missing the flight in initial World Cup squad call, Marnus also missed the team squad for Australia tour of South Africa.
The Western Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie was given place in the team because of his impressive performance in domestic cricket and Big Bash League. However, lucky for Marnus as he always gets, Steve Smith sustained an injury and the right handed batter was included back in the squad.
Labuschagne is averaging around 31 in ODI cricket in 28 innings, this is very contrasting to his average of 53 in test cricket. The story looks even more below standard when we look at his performance since 2020. The average goes below to 25 with a strike rate of 77 which doesn’t qualifies for the standard of number 4 position in ODIs for Australian cricket team.
Labuschagne Confesses His Weakness in ODI Cricket, Eyes To Improve
After his selection in the ODI squad for upcoming tour of South Africa, Marnus told to Fox Cricket, “I had to look at my one-day performance, and it wasn’t up to the standard that I uphold”. Knowing how important and serious the number 4 playing position can be, Labuschagne is adamant that he is the right choice for that spot and the tour of South Africa will prove to be a acid test for him.
Whether he can stand by the expectations of selectors, particularly George Bailey who said, “We know Marnus at his best is good enough to hold down a spot in the one-day team, we just haven’t seen enough of it consistently in the role that we’d like him to do”.
When we look at the Australian team, from batting position 5, 6 and 7 where the team has always played attacking fearless cricket, the importance of number 4 stands. In a straight line, it is all about holding one end with a strike rate of 80-90 while the the upcoming destructive set can do the job freely. Marnus is very able to do that, at this point in his case, it should be not thinking about the spot for him but playing his natural game.
Marnus was born in South Africa, and his maiden and only ODI ton came against Proteas in 2020. That is why he is excited as well as optimistic about playing attention worthy innings in the pivotal tour. Eyes on the series and reflecting on his previous records, Marnus said:
At the end of the day, you have to show it with performances, and hopefully South Africa can be an opportunity for me to show that.
It’s still all about the team, it’s not just about my selection. It’s about starting to play really good one-day cricket for Australia, starting to put really good performances together as a team.
