Marnus Labuschagne is ready to turn into an opener if it means he would return to Australia Test setup.
The 31-year-old — despite being in the squad for the recently held West Indies tour — was dropped from the playing XI after featuring in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final in June earlier this year, where Australia lost to South Africa.
“This (being left out) has given me an opportunity to reflect and not having the pressure of the media saying, ‘Marnus has got to go’,” Labuschagne told News Corp.
Since December 2022, Labuschagne, a regular number three, was averaging 33.02 in Tests when he was asked to open in the WTC Final. However, he could only manage 39 runs across two innings at Lord’s.
“If you had asked me where I prefer to bat, obviously I have batted at three my whole career, but at this stage you don’t get a choice. I opened in the World Test Championship final and felt I batted quite well. I got in but did not go on with it,” he reflected.
Australia’s next Test assignment — The Ashes — will be at home in November. Labuschagne will be playing three Sheffield Sheild games before the marquee series to give himself the best chance to get a recall.
“I would be happy to do that (open batting) – I would love to. If opener is where I need to bat to be playing in the Test team, that’s fine,” he said.
