Strange Marnus Labuschagne move during Australia training ahead of second Test against Sri Lanka

Questions are lingering over Marnus Labuschagne ahead of Australia’s second Test against Sri Lanka as he continues to battle a form slump.

Australia’s No.3 was the only batter in Australia’s top five to miss out on a half century last week in Galle as pressure continues to build on his position in the team.

He staved off calls for his axing during the summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, making important contributions in Adelaide and Melbourne to keep his head above water.

But since his twin scores of 70 and 72 at the MCG, Labuschagne has tallied an aggregate of 28 runs from three hits, putting him squarely back into focus.

And while they may mean little, clues at Australia’s main training session on Tuesday ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka did nothing to dispel doubts over the the 30-year-old’s job security.

7Cricket’s Bharat Sundaresan was at the Aussie training session and noticed a curious absence from the nets.

“Intrigued by the fact that we’re some 45 minutes into Australia’s main batting session and Marnus, who’s just been bowling off breaks, is yet to pad up,” he said.

“Cooper Connolly, Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja have had a hit. Konstas, Webster and Inglis next in.”

Less than 20 minutes later, Labuschagne started batting, but not in the nets and not with any of Australia’s first-choice XI.

“Marnus has now walked to the middle to face Scott Boland and Sean Abbott alongside Nathan McSweeney while the rest face the spinners in the nets,” Sundaresan said.

Labuschagne is expected to be named in Australia’s XI for Thursday’s second Test, with youngster Cooper Connolly’s wait for his baggy green likely to continue.

But with teenage opener Sam Konstas almost certain to return to the team outside of subcontinental conditions, and star allrounder Cam Green due to return from injury soon, Labuschagne could again come under heat for the World Test Championship final in June if he doesn’t score runs this week.

McSweeney is also waiting in the wings, and allrounder Beau Webster has done nothing to suggest he should be squeezed out when Green is fit to play.

Travis Head has all but confirmed he will make way for Konstas at the top of the order outside of Asia and return to his regular middle-order position, where Josh Inglis scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka last week.

Head vindicated the big selection call to drop Sam Konstas for the first Sri Lanka Test, whacking a half-century off only 35 balls and helping set the tone for a dominant Australian win.

“It was not by design to go out and score as quickly as I did,” said Head, who was eventually caught in the deep on 57.

“It was the same mindset: If they present an opportunity to score, I want to score.”

The innings continued an impressive recent run of form on the subcontinent for Head, once considered too incompetent against spin to be selected at all in Asia.

Since his reinvention as the Australian batting order’s aggressor-in-chief, Head has averaged 56 at the top across the 2023 India tour and the ongoing Sri Lanka series.

Australia’s regular No.5 is set to remain there when the second match of the series begins in Galle on Thursday, with the team hunting a 2-0 series whitewash

But Head expects it is unlikely he would ever face the new ball in seaming conditions, even with Usman Khawaja’s retirement expected in the coming years.

Head pointed out Steve Smith, McSweeney and now Konstas had all been considered ahead of him in the 12 months since legendary opener David Warner retired.

“It feels like the middle order is the spot in Australia for me,” said Head.

“As long as I can keep being consistent in that position and keep trying to do as well as I can, that’s great but it’s probably unlikely that I would (open) in Australia with where we’ve been in the last two years.”

Coach Andrew McDonald has already flagged changes to the batting order for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.

Head expects to make way for Konstas and move back to No.5 — barring selection pressure from recent debutant Inglis and Green, who is set to recover in time from his back injury in time to bat.

“Most likely I’ll go back in the middle order and Sam will open,” Head said.

“Josh has had an amazing start, guys are playing well, Greeny’s going to be fit. It’s going to be hard to fit in.”

- With AAP