Aussies poised to wield axe

Marnus Labuschagne is on the cusp of a shock recall as Australia’s under-pressure top six face a nervous wait before the Sydney Cricket Ground test.

Selectors have added Labuschagne, 24, to what is now a 14-man squad, with middle order batsman Peter Handscomb also in line for a return in the series finale against India that starts on Thursday.

Collapses of 29-3 and 13-3 derailed Australia’s first innings at the MCG plus their hopes of series victory.

Virat Kohli’s team are perfectly placed to complete a breakthrough series win at the SCG, where the final test starts on Thursday, after defeating Australia by 137 runs in the third test.

Fixing the national batting crisis will take hard work and systematic change but the more pressing issue for coach Justin Langer and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns is picking the best six batsmen in Sydney.

Labuschagne has played four test innings, averaging 20.2.

Aaron Finch and Mitch Marsh, whose shoddy shot selection was the low point of Australia’s second innings in Melbourne, are set to come under pressure to retain their respective spots in the XI.

Even if the playing side remains unchanged, Finch may be shuffled down the order if Tim Paine and Langer agree that Usman Khawaja should open alongside Marcus Harris.

‘‘I’ve got some thoughts. I’ll share that with JL and a few other guys before I share it here,’’ Paine said.

‘‘There’ll be a lot of things on the table in the next day or two.’’

Labuschagne, who is on Brisbane Heat’s books but yet to play in the Big Bash League, has passed 50 just once at first-class level since playing two tests against Pakistan. But the 24-yearold, who made his test debut in October, is highly regarded by Langer and Hohns.

Labuschagne’s legspin could also prove a deciding factor in his selection showdown with Marsh.

‘‘We’ll get up to Sydney and have a look at the conditions,’’ Paine said.

‘‘That will be a huge factor. We’re hearing it will spin quite a bit, so once we see that for ourselves we can try to think about the best combination to win that test.’’

The captain described Labuschagne as a young cricketer with a lot of talent, pointing to his batting, bowling and fielding.

Asked about Marsh’s hopes of remaining in the XI after scoring a total of 19 runs at the MCG, Paine made it clear the pitch would prove decisive.

‘‘We know Mitch at his best can offer a lot to Australian cricket,’’ he said.

‘‘We just need to make sure he’s at his best more often than not.

‘‘And, like the rest of us, the gap between his best and his worst gets smaller all the time.’’