Usman Khawaja has reiterated that he wants Marnus Labuschagne to bat at No. 3 in the Ashes.
A day after selection chair George Bailey was forced to defend himself over criticism from Australian icon Steve Waugh that players were having too much say in selection matters, Khawaja said that Labuschagne should bat at first drop in the Perth Test, despite Bailey not yet confirming whether the Queenslander will return to the side at the top or No. 3.
Should Labuschagne play at No. 3, it would almost certainly mean Khawaja would be partnered by Jake Weatherald at the top of the order, with Cameron Green dropping to No. 6 and Beau Webster forced out of the XI. The alternative option is Green staying at No. 3, Khawaja opening with Labuschagne and Webster holding his spot.
Green will have a chance to prove his fitness to play as a primary all-rounder in the Sheffiled Shield for Western Australia against Queensland next week.
ASHES TEST SELECTOR: CHOOSE YOUR XI FOR THE FIRST TEST
“I think our best team is always with Marnus scoring runs at three,” Khawaja told Fox Cricket during the innings break of Thursday night’s Twenty20 between Australia and India on the Gold Coast.
“Marnus three, (Steve) Smith four, (Travis) Head five.
“I think of it as an opposition player, I put myself out of the Australian cricket team and I think if I was the English captain, what team wouldn’t I want? And it’s always when you have Marnus scoring runs at three, Smith four, and Head five. At the moment that’s our best side.”
Bailey on Wednesday responded to criticism from Waugh, quipping that: “Well, they (the players) weren’t in the selection meeting,” he said.
Khawaja had last week raised eyebrows when he advocated for state teammate and friend Matt Renshaw to be picked for the first Test. In that same press conference, Khawaja pushed for Labuschagne at No. 3.
That seemingly prompted Waugh to comment at an Ashes trophy launch on Wednesday.
“I’d like to see the selectors pick the sides, not the players,” Waugh said.
“There’s been a lot of players recently picking sides and saying who should be in the team. That’s the selectors’ job.”
Originally published as Usman Khawaja wants Marnus Labuschagne to bat at No.3 in Ashes
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