New Delhi: Former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson think that Marnus Labuschagne should be included in the Playing XI instead of Marcus Stoinis in the ODI World Cup semifinal against South Africa at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Both Ponting and Watson have said that Marnus has contributed significantly as a batter and should be included in the playing XI for the semis.
On the other hand, Stoinis has played in six matches in this tournament and has scored just 86 runs and his personal best was 35. He also hasn’t been able to impress with the ball as he has taken just four wickets till now. With Cameron Green also available in the squad the team management will face a lot of selection issues ahead of the semifinals.
Ponting revealed that the Pat Cummins-led side has to acknowledge their middle-order struggle and that Labuschagne should be included.
“If you’re going to win the World Cup, you’re going to have to fix those overs 11 to 40, because so far in the tournament they’ve lost 12 more wickets in that period in the tournament than what India has through the whole tournament”, Ponting was quoted as saying to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“India has only lost 20 wickets through that phase. I probably would (retain Labuschagne). I mean even today we’ve seen Australia have gone to Mitchell Marsh’s bowling before they used Stoinis” he added.
Ponting also said that Labuschagne performed well beyond his expectations in the ODI World Cup 2023 by performing significantly.
“If Steve Smith had passed his fitness test, which he didn’t, then Labuschagne was the one missing out and Stoinis was staying in the side. But if you look at the numbers through this series, he hasn’t done a bad job, second leading run scorer … and I know the most important phase for Australia through this tournament they haven’t got right yet is their middle-order batting. They haven’t got that right, and they need to fix that quickly,” he further said.
Marnus played brilliantly in their group-stage matches against Sri Lanka, England, and the Netherlands. He has scored 286 runs out of the eight matches that he has played so far at an average of 35.75 but should improve his strike rate of 77.09
He’s got the ability to be able to handle a moving ball
Watson agreed with Ponting’sviews and said that Labuschagne’s Test cricket experience will help him play against two new balls, which would be used under the lights while chasing.
“He’s someone who has done a very good job for Australia throughout this World Cup, and as well Marcus Stoinis hasn’t set this World Cup alight yet. What we’ve seen in this World Cup, is if Australia end up batting second in a semifinal, that period with those two new balls swinging around, you do need your best technically equipped batters who can handle that moving ball”, Watson said.
