SHOULD MARNUS BE TEST CAPTAIN?
MARNUS Labuschagne has become 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 current Test record makes him one of the genuine 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 of himself 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 is born with the natural maturity of a Mark Taylor or an Ian Chappell.
People forget there was a time only a few years ago when Joe Root was the cheeky-faced back-of-the-bus kid in the England Test team who loved a prank and a gee-up 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 the moment captaining players who are 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 a 50-plus average and 50 Tests under his belt surrounded by a group of youngsters who hold his deeds in awe.