Labuschagne Stands Firm on No. 3 Spot Amid Rising Criticism
The Australian batter says he still believes he is the right man at first drop, even as his recent numbers invite questions over his place.
Marnus Labuschagne has pushed back against the growing debate over his position in Australia's Test side, insisting he remains the best option to bat at No. 3. The 32-year-old, who will captain Queensland in the One-Day Cup before joining the national Test squad, said scrutiny is simply part of life as a professional cricketer.
He acknowledged that his output has given critics ammunition. Labuschagne has now gone 43 innings without reaching a century, and his Test average since the end of the 2023 Ashes stands at 25.43. Although he keeps his place in the squad for the South Africa series, his selection is no longer a formality with the first Test in Durban approaching.
Ricky Ponting has previously argued Australia should leave him out, while David Warner recently raised his century drought in a social media exchange with the Barmy Army. Labuschagne stressed that the criticism concerns his performances rather than his character, describing the situation as something a player brings upon himself, and said anyone who knows him understands he is doing everything possible to return to his best.