Australia vs Sri Lanka: Marnus Labuschagne wants to make No.3 position his own

Australia recalled South Africa-born cricketer Marnus Labuschagne for the fourth and final Test against India in Sydney that concluded earlier this week. Labuschagne replaced an out-of-form Aaron Finch and came in as the No.3 batter with Usman Khawaja promoted to the opening slot. The right-hand batsman who also bowls leg-break scored 38 runs and went wicketless in the Test which was drawn after the Baggy Greens were made to follow-on by a superior India.

Labuschagne, who played only his third Test in Sydney after making his Test debut in Pakistan in the UAE last year, looked good with his 95-ball knock at a time when the rest of the Australian batting order looked brittle. His innings saw a 56-run partnership with opener Marcus Harris while Australia were under immense pressure replying to India’s 600-plus score in the first innings.

Labuschagne finds it easier to bat higher up order

The home team was criticised for picking the 24-year-old Labuschagne and now the latter is eager to make his No.3 spot his own, saying he finds it convenient to bat higher up the order. “Absolutely. Anyone who gets the opportunity to bat at three for their country wants to make it their own,” Labuschagne told reporters on Tuesday.

“I actually found it a bit easier to go out there (early in the innings) because it’s somewhere I’m really used to batting. I’m not a great waiter to bat, I love getting out there. So it was actually really good. I think it played in my favour really, to be able to get out there as quick as I can and get into the battle.”

The Queensland cricketer, who is yet to score a fifty in international cricket, is expected to make it to the Australian squad that would take on Sri Lanka for the two Test-series at home starting January 24. This will be the Baggy Greens’ last assignment in the longer format before the much awaited Ashes 2019 in August-September.

Labuschagne too is aware about the excitement that comes with Ashes and said he would love to be a part of that series though conceded that a lot of cricket will be played till then.

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