Australia coach says Labuschagne needs big runs after 1 and 31

Australia were beaten by nine wickets in the first Test of their two-match series in Darwin. Marnus Labuschagne made 1 and 31, prompting coach McDonald to say the number three batter needs a substantial score to strengthen his case for selection.

The result extended Labuschagne’s wait for a Test century to 42 innings. He has scored 166 runs at an average of 18.44 across his last nine Test innings, leaving his place in the XI under serious pressure before the second match.

McDonald acknowledged that Labuschagne looked more settled during his second-innings stay. He moved well, played confidently off his pads and struck the ball down the ground, while changes made to his approach appeared to hold under pressure. The coach said those improvements were encouraging, but the 31 remained an inadequate return and a missed opportunity for the batter.

Australia now face a must-win Test in Mackay on Saturday. The Darwin defeat has added pressure to the team’s selection decisions, with McDonald recognising that both the players and coaching staff are feeling the impact of the loss.

Josh Inglis is the only spare batter in Australia’s 13-man squad. Matt Renshaw and Cooper Connolly have also emerged as possible alternatives if the selectors decide to remove Labuschagne, although no change to the batting line-up has been confirmed.

McDonald said the team’s age profile and its future direction would form part of the discussion. He also stressed that the players still have significant cricket ahead of them, while accepting that the next selection decision will carry particular importance after the defeat in Darwin.