Australia’s bowlers restore order but batting headaches remain ahead of South Africa tour
Ex-skipper Ricky Ponting says it is time replacements for Marnus Labuschagne should be considered; others say no urgency for more changes
Normal service resumed for Australia as their formidable bowling unit hit their marks in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay but questions remain over a batting order that continues to misfire at the top.
Australia’s innings and 51-run victory was a strong comeback from the Darwin defeat as pace leaders Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins blasted away the tourists’ batters in a timely reminder of their quality ahead of a tough, three-test tour of South Africa in October.
Australia’s batting has left selectors with a headache, though, and struggling number three Marnus Labuschagne may be nervous about his place in the squad for South Africa.
South Africa-born Labuschagne was already under major scrutiny after two poor dismissals in Darwin before he was bowled for four in Mackay by Shoriful Islam, the ball catching his thigh pad before hitting the stumps.
Upon his dismissal, Labuschagne gave the look of a man forsaken by the cricketing gods and later took scissors to his thigh pad in an unusual gear modification.
But behind the theatrics was a batter who had strayed far across his crease and given Shoriful a look at leg stump, further evidence for pundits of a need for change.