Australia batter Travis Head recently returned to the squad after missing the first four games of the 2023 World Cup due to a broken hand sustained during the South African tour. Despite making a comeback, Mark Taylor remains skeptical about the team possibly axing Labuschagne.
In a recent interview with World Wide of Sports, Taylor expressed his reservations, noting that the inclusion of Head at the top of the order could disrupt the team’s balance.
“I believe George Bailey, the selector, has indicated a clear intention to play Travis Head at the top of the order, which, in a sense, is an aggressive move. However, the primary concern for Australia is the potential exclusion of Marnus Labuschagne. It’s highly probable that he’ll be left out. We’re omitting a genuine batter like Labuschagne, who performed well in the games leading up to this tournament,” Taylor said.
“Occasionally in one-day cricket, when there’s some spin or seam, having a player who can bat for a long duration becomes crucial. Consider Daryl Mitchell from New Zealand in the game against India. If they had a reliable batter towards the end, they could have reached 300, making the match more intriguing. It’s essential to have someone who can bat through the innings,” he added.
The former captain acknowledged Head’s impressive form before his injury, where he scored over 1,200 runs at an average of 46.30 across formats, including a century and eight half-centuries.
After suffering initial defeats in the tournament, Australia bounced back with convincing wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, revitalizing their World Cup campaign. The return of Head and the potential exclusion of Labuschagne remain topics of discussion as the team aims for further success in the competition.