EXCLUSIVE: Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor urge selectors to pick Jake Weatherald and avoid ‘stupid’ Marnus decision
Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has declared it would be “stupid” if Marnus Labuschagne was made to open again, imploring the selectors to move him back to No.3.
Labuschagne was selected at the top of the order for the World Test Championship final and hasn’t played for Australia since.
However, his scintillating form at Shield level means he’s a certainty to return for the first Ashes Test while Jake Weatherald is also likely to debut at the top of the order.
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Chappell was hopeful that’s the way selectors would go.
“Mainly because I would like to see Labuschagne at 3, especially if he’s back playing the way he should play rather than the way he was playing,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Outside the Rope.
“He’s a No.3 and I think at his best he’s a very good No.3. So I think it would be stupid to try and open with him in which case you’d have to open with Weatherald.”
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Getty
If Weatherald is selected, it would make him another opener the selectors have used to try and replace David Warner.
Since Warner’s retirement, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Labuschagne and Sam Konstas have all been used at the top of the order. Travis Head has also opened in Sri Lanka.
Weatherald’s potential partner, Usman Khawaja, also comes into The Ashes off the back of a disappointing series against the West Indies.
Khawaja struggled for runs last summer against India too but did find form in Sri Lanka.
Mark Taylor thinks Weatherald will complement the veteran at the top of the order.
“I think that’s why he’ll play, he’s got to play, he’s deserved selection … he’s more of an aggressive left-handed opening batsman than Usman so he will take a bit of pressure off,” Taylor said.
“If you go back to what’s happened in the Australian top order the last couple of years, Marnus said when David Warner retired that he didn’t want to move up and Steve Smith moved up. That only lasted a couple of Tests and didn’t work and then Marnus had to come in almost by default.
Jake Weatherald. Getty
“It seems to me Marnus is not keen to open the batting, he’s back in form … I’d stick with Marnus at 3, play Weatherald and tell him to play his natural game. Usman will try and hold up an end, what Australia do need is someone to be a bit more proactive at the top of the order, as Warner was for years.
“If he can give Australia’s innings a bit of impetus … Australia have got the batting to pick it up if they get off to a good start.”
