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Gillespie: Why Windies tour is last chance saloon for Marnus
Lachlan Geleit • June 18th, 2025 4:49 pm
Australian cricket great Jason Gillespie has described the upcoming West Indies Test tour as the last chance saloon for Marnus Labuschagne.
The Queenslander has only scored one century in his last 53 Test innings and recently made just 17 and 22 in the World Test Championship Final defeat.
With his output continuing to dwindle, Gillespie thinks that if Labuschagne is picked for the three Tests in the Caribbean he simply must perform to have any hope of playing in this summer’s home Ashes campaign.
He also suspects that Australia could have already made the call ahead of the Indies tour with either Labuschagne or top-order teammate Usman Khawaja potentially being axed.
“It's a difficult question,” Gillespie told SEN Whateley about whether he expects Labuschagne to keep his spot in the XI.
“But over the last two years, he's averaged in the mid-20s and he’s got only one hundred.
“If he does play in the Caribbean, I think it's definitely last chance saloon, there’s no doubt about that.
“I think if he doesn't perform strongly, then I think he's at a real risk of not playing in the Ashes.
“But I suspect either one of Usman or Marnus will miss out in the West Indies. That's my estimation.”
With Steve Smith locked into No. 4 and Travis Head at No. 5 when fully fit, that leaves No. 3 as the last non-opening spot for a specialist batsman in the Test XI for the Ashes.
With Cameron Green hopefully returning to an all-round role come this summer, Gillespie pondered whether Josh Inglis could fill the position despite the wicketkeeper-batsman also preferring to bat in the middle order.
If it’s not Labuschagne or Inglis at three to face England, Gillespie expects selectors to look at the best Shield cricket performer.
“I know that Steve Smith's best position is at four and I think Travis Head’s best position is at five. I think those guys are pretty set,” Gillespie said.
“So, I think ultimately that the selectors have got to decide: Is Inglis the best man to do the job at three, or is Marnus the best man to do the job at three?
“If they are, then play one of those guys.
“If not, then reward some performers in domestic cricket with either an opener or a number three who has performed strongly in Sheffield Shield cricket to promote one of those players to bat at three.”
The first Test between the West Indies and Australia begins on June 26 (AEST) in Barbados. Listen to every ball of the series on SEN and the SEN app.
