Former Australian batsman Michael Hussey has backed WA All-rounder Cam Green to take the all-rounder spot in the playing 11, as ongoing questions surrounding Australia’s batting order continue to linger. 

As the Ashes draw nearer, Australia faces a dilemma when putting its batting line-up together, but one pressing question – the form of Labuschagne – has been answered following an impressive start to the Shield season. 

However, the question remains: does Cameron Green or Beau Webster make the final cut for the playing 11? 

The answer has become less clear as a side injury to Green ruled him out of the ODI series against India, but Cricket Australia declared him fit to return to round three of the Sheffield Shield. 

It’s a similar story for Webster, who hasn’t put a foot wrong since earning his call-up during last year’s Border-Gavaskar series, but has been sidelined for the opening two Shield rounds with an ankle injury. 

Both all-rounders will have opportunities to plead their case to the Australian selectors over the next few Shield rounds before a decision is made ahead of the coin toss on November 21st. 

Speaking to SportFM, Hussey says it’s a tough call, but is leaning towards Green, based on Labuschagne’s recent form and his bowling. 

“That would mean that Marnus Labuschagne would open the batting and would allow both Green and Webster to play. For me personally, I prefer to put Marnus Labuschagne at number three and pick a specialised opener,” he said.

“We found last year with Nathan McSweeney that if you’re batting people out of position, you’re not exactly setting them up for success. You need to pick a specialist person to open the batting. 

“I know the selectors have wanted to promote Cameron Green at number three, but if he’s going to have to bowl some high-quality overs, I’d prefer to see him at number six, which would probably just squeeze out Beau Webster, which is a tough call. 

“This is the Australian test team. It’s not an easy team to get into. Beau Webster’s done reasonably well, but I think Cameron Green’s a better all-round package to play that number six role.”

Labuschagne has done a complete 180 from the World Test Championship Final, where he was dropped after making scores of 17 and 22, to be the leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield with 337 runs batting at number 3 for Queensland.

He averages 112.33 with a strike rate of 77.82, with a high score of 160 made against Tasmania in the opening round. He followed this up with 159 against South Australia in round 2. 

Hussey says he’s seen a change in mindset from Labuschagne, resulting in more confidence and decisive performances with the bat. 

“If Marnus had come out for Queensland and scored runs, that would not necessarily have been enough for me. It is the manner in which he scores the run,” he says.

“I’ve observed over the last couple of years, he’s been really going into his shell and looking to bat time and survive and hang in there. That’s not Marnus Labuschagne at his best.

“He’s come out with more confidence, decisive run scoring and looking to score runs. That’s the shift that I think we’ve all wanted to see. It’s great to see him back playing confidently, but it’s great to see him back playing a more assertive brand of cricket as well. 

“For him to be in the Aussie team and particularly to bat number three, I think he needs to play in that manner.” 

One persistent question that never seems to go away surrounds Australia’s opening partnership. 

Labuschagne’s performances have him 101 runs clear of Tasmania’s Jake Weatherald, who has been thrown up as an option to open the batting, especially since some usual suspects, including New South Wales’ Sam Konstas, have struggled to make a strong impression on the selectors.  

However, Hussey says Weatherall is equipped to handle a possible Test debut.

“He’s at a stage in his career where he’s got himself into a place where he knows his game a lot better now and what’s working for him. 

“He started well this year. Maybe he would have liked to have turned one of his half-centuries into a really big hundred to really put his name at the forefront of the mind of the selectors. 

“The signs are really good that he’s at a stage in his career where he’s got a good understanding of his game.

“I’m not saying that if he were selected, it’s going to be easy for him to come in and score runs consistently because coming in your first series will be hugely challenging. But I personally think that he’s equipped to be able to handle it.”

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