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“The squeeze is on" : Sundaresan admits Labuschagne's time in the Test side could be coming to an end
Zac Sharpe • February 9th, 2025 6:24 pm
SEN Cricket’s Bharat Sundaresan has admitted that Marnus Labuschagne’s spot in the Australian Test side could be in jeopardy after the 30-year-old failed to surpass 20 runs again in this Test series between Australia and Sri Lanka.
Labuschagne, who’s been under heavy criticism for his form in both this series and the Border-Gavaskar series, has only been able to record more than 50 runs on three occasions this summer.
Batters like Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head and Alex Carey, who all bat around him, have been able to record at least one century each, with Steve Smith, who bats one spot below him, recording four for the summer so far.
And with this in mind, as well as key players such as Cameron Green looking to come back for the World Test Championship in June, Sundaresan concedes that the time could be running out on Labuschagne’s luck with avoiding omission from the Test side.
“For the first time ever, it does look like his place could be under threat," Sundaresan said on SEN's The New Ball.
“When he got out yesterday, just the way he reviewed it and his body language as he looked up at the screen and the way he walked away, there was a sense of resignation as if to say what more can I do.
“Unfortunately for Marnus, yes his contribution’s were vital again during the Border-Gavaskar trophy, the two 70’s in Melbourne and the 64 in Adelaide, but this decline in his average which is in steep decline, it’s coincided with a lot of others vying for that spot, who are not playing shield cricket, who are within that dressing room who are performing.
“The squeeze is on. The squeeze is on and Cameron Green is coming back.”
Australia take on South Africa in the World Test Championship final on June 16.
The Aussies will be looking to claim their second WTC trophy in the last three seasons, as well as going into the lead with the most WTC titles ever.
