Alex Carey has urged Australian selectors to think carefully about their options before cutting No.3 Marnus Labuschagne from the Test team.
Despite Australia cruising to victory by an innings and 51 runs inside two days and levelling the two-match series in Mackay, the nation’s woes with the willow have continued to raise questions about the top order.
Labuschagne’s struggles date back to the start of 2023. Since then, he has scored just one Test century and 1659 runs at an average of 29.69.
The 32-year-old fell in limp fashion for four at Great Barrier Reef Arena when his attempted glance only resulted in the ball trickling off the bottom of his thigh pad into his stumps. Carey laughed when explaining the former world No.1 Test batsman had taken the scissors to his thigh guard in retribution.
“How unlucky is that, the old thigh pad onto the stumps. He cut it off,” Carey said.
The reality is that if Labuschagne is to be dropped – skipper Pat Cummins refused to guarantee his selection for the upcoming tour of South Africa – the selectors must find someone capable of delivering more than a man with 11 Test centuries.
None of the top 10 run scorers from the last Sheffield Shield season averaged more than 40, while very few have played red ball cricket recently – let alone batting in the top order.
While rookie prospects Ollie Peake and Campbell Kellaway have been touted as long-term options, neither have knocked the door down through weight of runs.
Nathan McSweeney and Marcus Harris both played division two county cricket in England during the 2026 Australian winter, the former making three centuries and two half-centuries in nine matches for Northamptonshire, averaging 45.57.
McSweeney toured Sri Lanka last year, having been thrown in as an opener against India at home when he struggled against a red-hot Jasprit Bumrah and averaged just 14.40 before making way for Sam Konstas.
The 27-year-old McSweeney only averaged 28 last Shield season, but he did manage an unbeaten double century for Australia A against the England Lions.
County runs did little to help Jake Weatherald, however. He averaged 60.37 in six division one clashes for Leicestershire in 2026 before finding himself on the scrapheap after the first Test against Bangladesh.
“Is Nathan the chat now, is he?” Carey said with a laugh after two questions about McSweeney. “Nathan has probably gone away from that [Test] experience and learned a lot about himself. He’s very calm, he’s got a very mature head for a young player.
“He’s come back definitely a better player. He’s a great leader for South Australia. He’s had a taste of it [Test cricket], he’s hungry, but I also think the group we’ve got here are in a pretty good headspace as well in terms of grinding away, improving our game and trying to adapt to all conditions.
“You’ve had guys go away to England and play cricket through the winter, you’ve had guys last summer making scores on tough tracks in Sheffield Shield cricket, and had lots of guys experience the Test set-up, as well as one-day cricket.
“There’s certainly some really good depth there, and some great options and headaches for selectors.”
Labuschagne (36 runs at 12 against Bangladesh) was not the only struggler. Weatherald was axed for Matt Renshaw (who made eight in the second Test) after a run of lean performances at Test level – averaging 20.36 in six games in the Baggy Green. Beau Webster managed just 17 runs in three digs in the Bangladesh series, while Travis Head chopped onto his stumps in each knock after making decent starts.
Only Steve Smith (157 runs at 52.33) and Cameron Green (184 at 61.33) played up to expectations. But while Carey admitted the batting group needed to find some form, he did not believe there was a need to rush into changes for the three-Test series in South Africa, starting on October 9, which follows ODI series against Zimbabwe and the Proteas.
“No urgency from my point of view,” Carey said. “I guess there is a bit of time now between that next Test match – a month or so – and we’re always looking for ways to improve.
“I’ll speak for Marnus; I think he’s shown some great signs. We know how good a player he is at his best, and I don’t think many batters found it easy out here. He’s working really hard, and a score is really close for him.
“A 200-plus score [in Mackay] could’ve been a lot better, we understand that, but quality bowling as well. To get a 150-run lead is fantastic, but I think we felt a little bit like we left some runs out there.”
