Forgotten Marn of the captaincy debate
MARNUS Labuschagne is the forgotten man in Australia’s search for a future Test captain.
There is no push by Queensland, the Brisbane Heat or Australia to help Labuschagne grow as a leader, which is a surprise given his Test record makes him one of the batting heavyweights of world cricket.
Australia is probably too conservative to consider making Labuschagne joint vicecaptain for the forthcoming South African tour but it would be a worthy move because he needs to start thinking as a leader given his rising status in the team.
“He’s too quirky,’’ is the standard objection to which the obvious reply beckons, “and Steve Smith isn’t?’’
Players are entitled to grow up on their journey. Not everyone has the natural maturity of a Mark Taylor or an Ian Chappell.
People forget only a few years ago Joe Root was the cheeky-faced back-of-the-bus kid in the England Test team who loved a prank and a geeup far more than the thought of captaining his country.
There was another young player, Ricky Ponting, who loved a night out and occasionally got in a spot of bother but he surged through a challenging period to become one of Australia’s most decorated leaders.
Steve Waugh was once a stony-faced kid who sat all but silent in the corner of the Australian dressing room and looked anything but the outstanding captain he matured into.
It’s true that Labuschagne would not be an ideal choice at present captaining a team of players older than he is and who saw him join the team in an excitable puppy sort of way.
But he is growing as a person and must be encouraged to grow further for soon enough he will be a standout captaincy option.
In a couple of years he could be the world’s leading batsman with 50 Tests under his belt surrounded by a group of youngsters who hold his deeds in awe.
For all of his quirkiness, Labuschagne does have one thing in his favour as a leader — an incredible zest for the contest. The bigger the challenge, the more determined he becomes — a fair start for any leader.