Pieces falling into place for Australia’s middle order

AUSTRALIA’S batting is not far from finding its feet and firing, despite suffering fivestraight losses in one-day cricket, according to Marnus Labuschagne.

The hosts’ weary squad will today start preparations for a three-match series against New Zealand, before Friday’s opener at the SCG.

On paper, Australia’s side looks close to its strongest.

David Warner and Aaron Finch are one of the world’s best opening partnerships despite a tough time in South Africa, while Labuschagne has taken his chance at No.4 below Steve Smith.

At full strength it also has one of the best attacks with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood playing.

But it is in the middle where there are still questions.

Coach Justin Langer said after the whitewash that no one had yet nailed down the finishing role, after Ashton Turner was axed following January’s 2-1 series loss in India.

D’Arcy Short looks the most likely to do that having had his best time in Australian colours while averaging 41 in South Africa, often batting the side out of trouble.

Mitch Marsh averaged 28 on return, Ashton Agar played only the one game while Matthew Wade did not feature.

“There’s a lot of us who haven’t played much one-day cricket,” Labuschagne said.

“I have played five or six games, D’Arcy (Short) has not played many. ‘Kez’ (Alex Carey) has played 30-odd.

“There are just guys learning those middle-order roles. It’s going to take a little time.

“They are all great players and have shown that in the Big Bash and one-day competition here.”

Labuschagne is also adjusting to life in the middle in oneday cricket for Australia. The 25-year-old’s maiden whiteball century on Saturday against South Africa capped a great start to his career.

He has looked busy in each of his five innings, but says he is learning how to bat with Smith as both have similar styles as accumulators.

“We do it in slightly different ways batting in the middle order,” Labuschagne said.

“We are both all right against spin, so we can score — probably not like Warner and Finch with heavy boundaries — but we rotate the strike very well. We run really hard.

“So I think it’s about getting used to batting together and how we do that in the middle together.

“When do we take some more risks and when do we not?

“When do we need to tactually hold off a little longer and pull the trigger a bit later? It’s learning how I can complement him in the No.4 spot.”