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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually the cracks aren\u2019t so loose, and you don\u2019t get the big discrepancy in bounce,\u201d Labuschagne said \u201cOccasionally one hits a crack, but that usually goes way left or way right and it\u2019s not even a concern. But it\u2019s when you get those cross-cracks and the ball hits on the low side, goes down and then [another] hits up.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I don\u2019t think it was reaching that [dangerous] stage, but was certainly one of those tough games that you get here at Perth.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Australia\u2019s highest-ranked bowler, Cummins was happy to be playing on a pitch which offered the bowlers some assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably a bit more than you\u2019d ideally want on a day-four wicket,\u201d Cummins said of the varying bounce. \u201cBut there was a lot of cricket before that to set up the game.<\/p>\n
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Marnus Labuschagne is treated for a hand injury he suffered on Saturday.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cWe play on a lot of wickets where it\u2019s really flat and it\u2019s \u201cfill your boots\u201d as a batter. Here, the second innings for both teams was more difficult than the first, but as you saw, there\u2019s plenty of runs to be got out there. You\u2019d be happy to bowl on that every week.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s happened so many times when I\u2019ve been on the bench, so it\u2019s going to have to take something pretty serious I reckon to have me miss.<\/p>\n Mitchell Marsh is struck in the helmet, a fate he suffered twice during the Perth Test.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cThe finger\u2019s fine, there\u2019s no break. It hit me more on the knuckle side and jammed up my hand, so I was a bit nervous out there. I\u2019ve had a lot of finger blows, but this felt a bit different.<\/p>\n \u201cOvernight 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\u2019t feel that good. But I\u2019ve actually got some really good range in it.<\/p>\n \u201cI probably didn\u2019t have as much control of squarer shots, but a couple of days off will do it good.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll 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. \u201cIt\u2019s basically the ideal start to the summer. It\u2019s still about a week or so until the next game and I don\u2019t think injuries are going to be an issue, so I dare say it will be a pretty similar line-up at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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