Legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting believes that Australia's Marnus Labuschagne may get pushed up the batting order for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa. According to him, the 30-year-old is likely to open with Usman Khawaja for the all-important final that will be held at Lord's and will commence from June 11.
"I have just got a bit of a feeling that Marnus Labuschagne might be pushed up the order to open the batting with Khawaja. I think Green will bat at three and Steve Smith will be at four. Then it's Travis Head five, Beau Webster six, Carey at seven, Cummins eight, Starc nine and Lyon 10," Ponting said on The ICC Review.
Australia have announced their 15-member squad for WTC final
Earlier this month, Australia had announced their 15-member squad for the one-off Test against South Africa. Head coach Andrew McDonald has already stated that he will decide the playing XI once the team arrives in London..
Ponting also gave his opinion on who will be chosen in the Baggy Greens' playing XI between Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland. Though both have performed well in red-ball cricket, the current Punjab Kings head coach believes that Hazlewood will be favoured if he is fit.
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"And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood (versus) Boland one. It's a really tough selection every time because every time Boland plays, he just does so well. But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back into the team," Ponting added.
Ponting also believes that Australia are going to keep Labuschagne in the playing XI despite the batter having scored just one century in the format since the end of 2022. He stated that the reigning WTC champions will be looking to end the ongoing cycle with the same players that have featured for them in it.
"I actually think that they will go with Labuschagne. Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that. And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final," Ponting said.
"Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod. Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different thing...all will be revealed in the next couple of weeks," he concluded.
Australia squad for WTC final: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.