Australian News Today

Webster joins Test squad, but selectors avoid panic button

Webster joins Test squad, but selectors avoid panic button

Captain Pat Cummins said after the Perth defeat that the selectors were likely to show faith in the team.

“I think after the Test you look at what you think your best match-up is [but] this is a sample size of one,” Cummins said.

“Four or five days ago we thought this was our best 11. So I dare say there won’t be many changes going into Adelaide, but I’m not a selector. I’m sure they’ll get together after the game. Got a bit of work to do over the next 10 days.”

Selectors appear likely to stick with Marnus Labuschagne at No.3, despite the Queenslander’s worrying dip in form.

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Labuschagne has only 330 runs at 23 since Boxing Day last year. He made only two off 52 balls in the first innings in Perth, while in the second innings he shouldered arms to Jasprit Bumrah and was trapped lbw for three.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has backed Labuschagne to remain at No.3.

“I know there’s a lot of talk about Marnus being dropped, but I hope they give him another crack,” Clarke said on ESPN’s Around The Wicket.

“I still think he’s our best option [at No.3]. I think he’s a very good player who’s out of form, but I think he can turn that around if he gets his preparation right and looks after his mind, probably even gets away from the game for a couple of days in the lead-up to this second Test.”

The Perth defeat was the first time Australia have dropped consecutive matches at home since the infamous South Africa series of 2016-17.

Australia will arrive in Adelaide on Monday, where they will use training sessions to adjust to the twilight conditions come game time.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

More to come

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