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Australia missed their moment to drop Labuschagne, and it could come back to bite them
Lachlan Geleit • February 18th, 2025 9:48 am
Gerard Whateley firmly believes that Australian selectors have mismanaged Marnus Labuschagne by not dropping him when his form suggested otherwise.
Over the last two home summers, Labuschagne has averaged in the 20s with a highest score of 72 across 10 Test matches.
While selectors have persisted with the No.3 in his preferred batting spot, Whateley feels that the Queenslander should have been axed long ago to work on his craft in the Sheffield Shield - a strategy that might have had him back in form at international level.
Although Whateley thinks that Labuschagne can keep his spot for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa if he performs well in the upcoming ODI Champions Trophy - believing that runs in any format constitutes form - he can’t understand why Australia have stuck with Labuschagne for so long.
The SEN host pointed to previous examples of when Labuschagne was dropped in white-ball cricket before returning with form and he feels that the same could have occurred in the red-ball format if the right decisions were made.
“In this set-up, runs in any form count and I like that, it has served them well,” Whateley said on SEN Mornings.
“My issue here is Australia needs Labuschagne long-term at three making big runs, that’s the premise.
“He's not a disposable cricketer in my mind, but they should have dropped him. They've missed their moment to drop him when he hasn't been performing.
“He would be back by now (if they dropped him earlier). He has shown through his white-ball cricket that he responds to being at the pointy end of the blade.
“How many times has he been dropped in 50-over cricket? But he's the body in the lake that keeps coming to the surface, and he plays a huge role for Australia in winning the previous World Cup because of it.
“He should have been dropped, gone back to the Shield, rediscovered his hunger and whatever else it is in red-ball cricket, and then be back into the side.
“So, I would have had him out and then back in by the World Championship.”
Given Labuschagne is only 30 amongst an otherwise aging batting line-up, Whateley feels the last two summers would have been an ideal time to drop the Queenslander as the nation isn’t overly reliant on him for now.
“He’s not one of the old brigade,” Whateley said.
“I feel like he gets wrapped up in that, ‘What order are they going to retire?’. He’s a young cricketer, Australia desperately needs him making centuries at three.
“But not if he feels safe at three no matter what… ‘You don't own three in this team. Go and fight your way back’ (is what they should have said).
“I would have had him out and back in, rejuvenated by now, to lead the charge at that World Test Championship.”
The WTC Final between Australia and South Africa takes place at Lord's in London from June 11.
