Langer warns batsmen to lift game

AUSTRALIA’S underperforming batsmen have been told to sharpen up, as coach Justin Langer prepares to axe the team’s weakest link.

Although it was the bowlers who ultimately failed to get the job done at Leeds, having rolled England for 67 in its first innings on Saturday, Australia’s under-par second innings score of 246 in good batting conditions on the back of 179 on day one came back to bite it.

Only Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner passed 50 in the match for Australia, which will desperately hope to have Steve Smith back for the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting on September 4.

Smith faced bowlers for the first time in the nets at Leeds on Sunday since his concussion and will play against Derbyshire this week.

Langer said the match will shape as a bat-off for places with Labuschagne now cemented in the side after three successive half-centuries since coming in for Smith.

“One thing I do know is we’re not batting well enough at the moment,” Langer said. “I said at the start of the series that the team that bats best will win the Ashes.

“We’re certainly not at our best with our batting at the moment. We’ve got some real questions to ask for the practice game then the fourth Test match.”

Usman Khawaja appears to be the player most at risk, having failed to pass 50 in any of his six innings. Vice-captain Travis Head has only reached more than 50 once, while Matthew Wade has passed single figures just one time aside from his hundred in the second innings of the first Test.