AUS add leg-spin all-rounder in team for Sydney Test

The defeat at Melbourne has shocked the Australian team management and has forced them to make changes in their squad. In a desperate attempt to make a comeback the team management has roped in Marnus Labuschagne in the squad.

Labuschagne in the team as AUS expects Sydney wicket to turn

Interestingly, the Australian team management has decided to rope in Marnus Labuschagne despite the fact that they have already announced the 13-member squad for the Sydney Test.

Skipper Tim Paine explained this move by stating that from what they are hearing, the pitch at Sydney probably will spin quite a bit so once they see that for themselves, they will start to think about the best combination to win that Test.

Marnus Labuschagne has played 5 #SheffieldShield games since his Test matches in Middle East where he averaged 20.25 with bat.

Batting: 9 innings, 254 runs @ 28.22

Bowling: 76 overs, 5 wickets @ 59.60

He's being seriously looked at for SCG Test because of his bowling option.

— Adam White (@White_Adam) December 30, 2018

Paine also thinks that they have got the best group of players available to them at the moment and they will pick the best combination for that group that they think will win the last Test.

Who is Marnus Labuschagne?

A middle-order batsman who can bowl handy leg-breaks Marnus Labuschagne can provide variety and balance to the team.

The right-hand batsman was part of Australia’s team for the series against Pakistan and featured in two Tests. He picked seven wickets in four innings at an average of 22.42 and scored 81 runs at an average of 20.25.

He has scored two fifties in his last three first class games for Queensland and is in good touch. With Lyon looking exhausted at Melbourne, Australia can use the leg-spinner as a second spinner.

To be fair to Marnus Labuschagne, his last first-class innings was 78 (top score in a successful chase of 414) and two games earlier he made 52 against Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins & Lyon. His form may not be amazing but it's not *that* bad either. #AUSvIND

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) December 30, 2018

India win Melbourne, retain Border-Gavaskar trophy

Also read: The fab four of bowling: Reactions to Team India’s win at Melbourne

Meanwhile the visitors trashed Australia in the Boxing Day Test and have taken a 2-1 lead in the Test series. India has thus retained the Border- Gavaskar trophy and Tim Paine and Co. have the daunting challenge of saving the series at Sydney.

Australia squad for Sydney Test-

Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc