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Marnus Labuschagne will rest his battered hand for a couple of days at home but has declared himself a certain starter for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Labuschagne and his captain Pat Cummins both played down the potentially dangerous nature of the Perth pitch after a number of players from both teams were hit from balls flying off cracks and Pakistan were bowled out for just 89 in 30.1 overs on Sunday. Labuschagne required scans and Mitch Marsh was forced to change his helmet twice after being struck.
“Usually the cracks aren’t so loose, and you don’t get the big discrepancy in bounce,” Labuschagne said “Occasionally one hits a crack, but that usually goes way left or way right and it’s not even a concern. But it’s when you get those cross-cracks and the ball hits on the low side, goes down and then [another] hits up.
“So I don’t think it was reaching that [dangerous] stage, but was certainly one of those tough games that you get here at Perth.”
As Australia’s highest-ranked bowler, Cummins was happy to be playing on a pitch which offered the bowlers some assistance.
“It’s probably a bit more than you’d ideally want on a day-four wicket,” Cummins said of the varying bounce. “But there was a lot of cricket before that to set up the game.
Marnus Labuschagne is treated for a hand injury he suffered on Saturday.Credit: Getty
“We play on a lot of wickets where it’s really flat and it’s “fill your boots” as a batter. Here, the second innings for both teams was more difficult than the first, but as you saw, there’s plenty of runs to be got out there. You’d be happy to bowl on that every week.”
Labuschagne was struck a painful blow by a lifting delivery from Khurram Shahzad late on Saturday and was treated on the ground for some time before continuing but was out a short time later. He was taken for scans which cleared him of any serious damage and batted in the nets before play on Sunday.
There were initially concerns that Labuschagne could be ruled out of the series, which would have seen Steve Smith move up to No.3 and Cameron Green return to the team at No.4, where he bats for Western Australia. However, Labuschagne made it clear he would do everything he could to keep his spot.
“That’s happened so many times when I’ve been on the bench, so it’s going to have to take something pretty serious I reckon to have me miss.
Mitchell Marsh is struck in the helmet, a fate he suffered twice during the Perth Test.Credit: Getty
“The finger’s fine, there’s no break. It hit me more on the knuckle side and jammed up my hand, so I was a bit nervous out there. I’ve had a lot of finger blows, but this felt a bit different.
“Overnight it was a little bit sore but Sunday morning was fine. I had a hit and it was all right. It just got me in a bit of an awkward spot. There was no padding on that side of the glove, and it got me sort of underneath and jammed it, so it didn’t feel that good. But I’ve actually got some really good range in it.
“I probably didn’t have as much control of squarer shots, but a couple of days off will do it good.”
Reserve fast bowler Lance Morris has been released from the squad and will remain at home in Perth, making him available for the Scorchers home game against the Hurricanes at Perth Stadium on Wednesday night.
Scott Boland remains the reserve fast bowler in what is now a 13-player squad, but Cummins played down the prospect of the Victorian playing on his home ground despite having an outstanding record at the MCG. In two Tests there he has ten wickets at an average under 14 with a best of 6-7.
“We’ll take stock over the next couple of days, but I think all the bowlers are pretty fresh after that (short Pakistan second innings), Cummins said. “It’s basically the ideal start to the summer. It’s still about a week or so until the next game and I don’t think injuries are going to be an issue, so I dare say it will be a pretty similar line-up at this stage.”
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