Marnus Labuschagne has been drafted into Australia’s World Cup plans at the last possible moment
, following an overnight victory over India in Rajkot that convinced the selectors they could find room for him as well as the recovering Travis Head., Labuschagne will stay in India as part of the World Cup 15 after a spot was vacated by Ashton Agar as he has failed to recover quickly enough from a calf problem. The Cup squad will be formally unveiled later on Thursday.
Labuschagne made 421 runs at an average of 60.14 and a strike rate of 97.67 across eight games against South Africa and India to be clearly Australia’s best performer in a side that was often well below full strength. He may not have played much at all had Cameron Green not been concussed in the opening game against the Proteas.
None of Matt Kuhneman, Todd Murphy or Nathan Lyon – himself in the final stages of his recuperation from a calf tear during the Ashes – were deemed the right option as a second spin bowler. He will play a vital role in the tournament particularly in early games as Head works through the latter stages of his return from a fractured hand suffered in South Africa.Labuschagne’s sheer fitness and durability also shone through in Rajkot, as Marsh and Smith struggled noticeably with temperatures nearing 40C and sapping humidity. Having made 96, Marsh did not field for any of India’s innings.
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