Marnus Labuschagne is adamant he’s still the right person for the No. 4 role in Australia’s ODI team despite missing selection for the initial World Cup squad earlier this month.
The Queenslander was dropped from Australia’s ODI squad ahead of the upcoming white-ball tour of South Africa, replaced by West Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Labuschagne has averaged 25.80 in ODIs with a strike rate of 77.98.
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“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,” chair of selectors George Bailey told reporters earlier this month.
“I’ve got no doubt he’ll play a part in one-day cricket in the future. We know at his best, he can play a really important role in one-day cricket.”
However, Labuschagne was recalled to the ODI squad after teammate Steve Smith sustained a wrist injury that ruled him out of the South Africa tour.
Speaking to Fox Cricket this week, Labuschagne confessed his one-day form hasn’t been up to standard, but he was eager to stamp down the No. 4 spot if given the opportunity in South Africa next month.
“I had to look at my one-day performance, and it wasn’t up to the standard that I uphold,” Labuschagne told Fox Cricket.
“I’ve got no doubt that I’m still the right person for Australia to bat in that middle order, but 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.”
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Labuschagne scored his maiden ODI century during Australia’s previous white-ball tour to South Africa, a classy 108 (108) against the Proteas in March 2020. However, the right-hander hasn’t reached triple figures in 23 ODI knocks since.
“I think I’ve had a fair few opportunities to sort of stamp down that authority at No. 4, and I haven’t taken the opportunity,” Labuschagne continued.
“Hopefully in the next few games I can do that … I certainly want to be a bit more proactive than I have been in previous times.”
Smith, who is expected to return from injury ahead of the World Cup, admitted he was “a little bit shocked” Labuschagne initially missed selection for the South Africa tour, but backed the 29-year-old to prove his worth in canary yellow.
“Having spoken to Marnus, he’s probably honest in his reflections that he hasn’t scored as many runs as he would have liked in that format,” Smith told Fox Cricket.
“We all know he’s a quality player, and I think in particular for big tournaments you want your best players. They’re the ones that probably do best under pressure.
“I was a little bit shocked (Labuschagne was dropped), but he’s also honest that he hasn’t quite nailed it, I suppose.
“He’s got his opportunity now that I’m not going to South Africa. I don’t know whether he slots in (the starting XI) or not, but potentially gets his opportunity to show what he’s made of.”
Australia will announce a provisional 15-player World Cup squad next month, but the touring party does not need to be finalised until September 28.
The first ODI between South Africa and Australia gets underway in Bloemfontein on September 7.
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