Legend’s brutal Marnus verdict; Smith move that could be the ‘solution’: Talking Points

Australia has the upper-hand after a remarkable opening day of the second Test of the series against Bangladesh, but the hosts have left the door ajar for the Tigers after failing to make the most of the better batting conditions.

After Mitchell Starc rattled through the Bangladesh top-order with a sizzling spell in what is a must-win Test for Australia if they are to square the series, fellow left-arm quick Islam Shoriful bowled the Tigers back into the Test with a brilliant spell.

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The fact that 18 wickets fell seems extraordinary given the pitch did not appear overly taxing, but it was the ability of the two attacks to move the ball in the air that proved deadly, with Starc and Shoriful superb.

At stumps, Australia is 8-165 and leads by 101 runs, with Cameron Green batting with poise again when notching his half-century shortly before the end of play. He is unbeaten on 51, while Nathan Lyon is not out on 10.

“It is just extraordinary,” Kayo Sports’ expert Adam Gilchrist said.

“This game is well and truly wide open.”

Has time run out for Marnus?

Former Australian selector Mark Waugh has declared Marnus Labuschagne “might have played his last game” after the Queenslander’s winter of discontent continued on Saturday.

To suggest Labuschagne was unlucky to be dismissed for four would be an understatement, but it does not exclude him from culpability after he was bowled by Shoriful Islam, who took his first five wicket Test haul to renew hope for Bangladesh.

Told by Australian coach Andrew McDonald he needed “big runs” after flattering to deceive in Darwin when out for 31, the No.3 was out when a ball ricocheted off his thigh pad and on to leg stump.

The dismissal prompted bewilderment from anyone who has held a bat, for usually a ball clipping the thigh pad will run harmlessly down to fine leg but as every Fox Cricket expert noted it is the type of dismissal that happens when your luck is out. And he had opened the door to be dismissed, for further chat about his future and, along with his teammates, for the Tigers to fight back into the match after Mitchell Starc’s stunning start to the second Test of the series.

“You could say unlucky but he was a long way across his crease, so he has opened up the opportunity for that dismissal,” Healy said.

“He has opened the door again for the chit chat but he has one more innings to prove us wrong. But I feel like when you are out of luck, out of form, you find ways to get out... I think they are going to have to force some change into the South African series and bring some fresh blood in. I mean, there is no reason why not anymore because we are failing as is.” “It feels sad to stand here and say that but it is time to have another look.”

That is a massive problem for Labuschagne and also for the Australian selectors with a view to the massive season of Test cricket ahead, starting with the three Test tour of South Africa.

“Whether he gets a second innings or not, we don’t know, and if he doesn’t, the selectors will strongly look at his position for South Africa,” Waugh said.

“I think (his form) is definitely a factor. He has averaged 26 for his last 40 Test innings at No.3. Those numbers mean you would not normally get selected. It is such a long run to give a batsman... how many more chances does he get? He might not get another bat in this game, so he will be hoping he does. He might have played his last game for Australia.”

The quandary with replacing Labuschagne has not changed despite his dismissal, for the timing of the series means no prospective candidate has had the chance to press their claims, though Nathan McSweeney is making runs in County cricket.

“There are guys around who selectors think, ‘Maybe they are good enough (but) maybe they are not and even averaging 26, they are not going to do better than Marnus’, but I think it comes to a stage where you have to bite the bullet and you have to give someone else a go,” Waugh said.

Australian great Adam Gilchrist noted that Labuschagne was only averaging in his 30s in Sheffield Shield cricket when a chance arose to play for the nation courtesy of the suspensions handed to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft in 2018.

“Marnus himself was only averaging in the 30s when he was picked and he came in when Warner and Smith were out (and) maybe a case can be made to say, ‘Just get them in there (and) give them a chance, this next generation of players’,” Gilchrist said.

Not the return Renshaw wanted

Matt Renshaw is certain to be given time to find his feet again in the Australian team in what is his third crack at Test level but he would have hoped for a brighter start.

But what is a slight concern is the manner with which the Queenslander, who made eight before edging Taskin Ahmed to Tanzid Hasan, was dismissed given his past at the crease.

The Kayo Sports’ experts were unanimous in their assessment that Renshaw, who is playing his 15th Test, is now equipped to handle the rigorous examination Test cricket provides.

But Waugh cited an area of concern before Starc’s starring act with the ball when noting that the left-handed opener had a propensity to get out caught behind the stumps.

“I think he has the temperament. We will see if he has the technique,” he said on the Kayo Sports coverage of the second Test of the series.

“I was looking at a couple of stats which weren’t great reading as far as his way of getting out. He has been out 44 per cent of the time caught behind as an opener in Shield cricket in the last two seasons.

“I don’t know what sort of shots they were, but keep an eye on that. He does have a tendency to square up a bit on off-stump (though) I am sure he has been working on that.”

It is certain Bangladesh, who have bowled with discipline to the Australian top order, were aware of the habit and South Africa will also be mindful of Renshaw’s traits at the crease.

But Mike Hussey, whose decorated career began at the same age that Renshaw has regained his spot in the Australian team, believes the Aussie opener can flourish in his 30s.

“I think he is probably ready now to perform on a consistent basis,” Hussey said.

“Like a lot of young players, they go through the ups and downs and are still trying to figure out their own game and whether they actually belong at this level. (But) he has learned about his game a little bit more.

“He is in a nice, comfortable place off the field as well, settled off the field, and understands his own game a little bit more, so I feel like he is in a really good place to give the selectors confidence that he can perform on a more regular basis.”

Which begs the question about the batting order?

If a change is as good as a holiday, could a refresh of the order be enough to jolt the Australian batsman into posting big scores once again.

It is a theory that has merit according to Healy and her fellow Fox Cricket expert analysts.

A simple solution, Waugh said, could be to elevate champion batsman Steve Smith up to No.3 and shift Travis Head away from the opening position to shore up the middle order.

Before Labuschagne’s failure, Waugh said he would have promoted Labuschagne to open alongside Renshaw, with Steve Smith at three, Head moving back down to No.4.

He also flagged that if Beau Webster was not in the team, Cooper Connolly would shape as an option at No.7 in the future.

“(The solution might be) changing the batting order around a bit,” Waugh said.

“Can Steve Smith bat at three and Travis Head at four? Then you would have to find another opener. There are a lot of questions.

“Why? Because I think your best batsman should be batting at No.3. That is Steve Smith. I think Travis Head is better down the order. I know he’s opening and he’s done a reasonable job, but I don’t see him as a long-term owner … and he is out of form a bit, Travis Head, so I’d like to see him back in the middle order.”

Healy believes there is some merit to the latter as the Australian selectors take their time to assess who is best placed to take the nation forward.

But she also said it could not hurt to introduce another new opener alongside Renshaw and let them build given the downturn that has occurred in the top three in recent seasons.

“I think it almost gives it a freshen up,” she said.

“I don’t necessarily think that always has to occur, but I feel like now is as good a time as any to … make that change. It doesn’t have to be a significant change, but it almost just needs a different look. That is what it feels like from the outside and I voice that personally, I don’t necessarily see an issue with two new openers at the crease.

“I think our middle order is our real strength in our batting line-up. And that is with Travis Head in it. I think that’s the real counterpunch of this Australian team and where we’ve had success. So automatically, losing that to an extent has put us on the back foot at times.

“So I don’t necessarily see an issue with two fresh faces at the top of the order. It’s something new that someone like South Africa is going to have to counter moving forward. It would make them think about something different. And then we’ve obviously got that real power in the middle.”

As an aside, Kerry O’Keeffe also believes there is merit in Connolly, who played in Sri Lanka, featuring in Australian calculations in the near future.

He said a potential future XI would be Renshaw opening alongside Victorian Campbell Kellaway, with Smith at No.3 and Head batting at No.4.

O’Keeffe would settle Green in his current position, with Connolly batting at No.6 and Carey sliding back down the order to No.7.

That, Healy said, could be a good move given the South Australian has proven himself capable of batting well with the tail.

“Alex has obviously shown he is capable of batting a little bit higher, but his real strength is being able to bat with the tail and counter punch down there,” she said.

“But Heady just takes the pressure off everybody in that middle order when he comes in there. Having a ball that’s not moving as much gives him the license to play the way he wants to and just throw his hands through the ball.I don’t think that the middle order needs to necessarily shift. It’s just more what we want to see at the top.”

Starc adds to his records

Alyssa Healy quipped it was Mitchell Starc’s shout for dinner and swapped a low five with her husband after he devastated the Bangladesh top order in Mackay on Saturday.

But it was what the former Australian captain said in commentary that revealed why the champion has broken into the 10 most successful bowlers in history.

The 36-year-old, who surpassed South African great Dale Steyn when securing 6-12 in a stunning rout of the Tigers, has been extremely diligent in ensuring he is at his best.

This includes the ice baths and detailed strength-and-conditioning programs he has followed and also the sacrifices he has made to enable him to excel in Test cricket.

“I think he’s probably learnt how to do that better,” Healy told foxsports.com.au.

“I think his body let him down a lot quite early in his career and then on the flip side, it’s holding up for him well nowadays because of those little extra, tiny little extra things that he does to keep it that way.

“He’s dreamt of a long career wearing that Baggy Green and he’s enabling himself the opportunity to do that by looking after his body. And I think those little one percenters that you do away from the cameras and away from all the eyeballs eventually lead to having the rewards there. I think he’s seeing the benefits.”

Starc is an all-former weapon, but he has skipped the riches of the Indian Premier League at different stages and more recently retired from international T20s to extend his Test career.

The most successful left-arm bowler in history with 441 wickets, the New South Welshmen is playing in his 107th Test match in a career that began against New Zealand in 2011.

Healy said the fact he is still firing in his 15th year of international cricket is something that Starc is the most proud of.

“I think it’s more the longevity that I think he’s been the most proud of in his career,” she said.

“Obviously you creep your way up the wicket tally, but to play 107 Test matches for your country, alongside all the other formats that he has played for Australia over the years as well, (is extraordinary).

“I think him prioritising the Test game has really reaped its rewards probably in the latter half of his career. He copped a lot early on in what he was producing, but I think he’s seen the benefits of it here and now.”

Having fashioned a reputation as the world’s premier first over specialist with a devastating ability to start an innings at the peak of his power, Starc delivered in style again on Saturday.

His first ball dismissal of Shadman Islam, who edged to Cameron Green in the slips cordon, was the fourth time he has taken a wicket with the opening ball of a Test match.

That saw him surpass Pedro Collins, who has managed it three times, as the man with the most opening ball Test wickets in history, with Indian icon Kapil Dev and New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee among those to deliver with the first delivery twice.

Islam aside, Starc snared Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne with the first ball in Galle in 2016, Rory Burns with a scorcher to start the Ashes in Brisbane in 2021 and Yashavi Jaiswal at Adelaide Oval in 2024 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

There is another quirk that goes with those four first ball strikes.

On each occasion, Starc was bowling the first ball after Australia had been beaten in a Test match, something that occurs only rarely. Clearly he is a competitive beast who so often sets the tone for his teammates, as Aussie great Adam Gilchrist said.

“That is a statement of the highest quality by Mitchell Starc,” he said on Kayo Sports’ coverage of the series against Bangladesh.

“That is just extraordinary. Mitchell Starc, wow. What a way to set a tone for the team.”

It also means that the Aussie star has taken at least one five wicket haul against each of the eight nations he has played a Test against, furthering his reputation as a formidable force.

The masterpiece is the sixth time in his Test career that he has taken six wickets in an innings. As he received a standing ovation wile walking from Great Barrier Reef Arena, good mate Josh Hazlewood offered further plaudits.

“Starcy was phenomenal,” he told Fox Cricket.

“It is crazy. He just gets on a roll sometimes. There were a couple of lefties at the top, so it is a nice match up. It was amazing to watch.”

Bringing back the bumper

Starc was not the only Aussie fast bowler snarling as they sought to banish the nightmares of the debacle in Darwin with a magnificent mauling of the Tigers in Mackay.

As Aussie great Mark Waugh said; “They hunt as a pack, this Australian fast bowling quartet, and Mitchell Starc was the one who got the rewards today.”

What was evident from Starc’s sizzling opener to Hazlewood’s stare-down of Taskin Ahmed to Pat Cummins striking No.11 Shoriful Islam on the right shoulder was the menace.

And part of the return to form for the bowling attack was a deliberate plan to bounce the Bangladeshis on occasion after what was a tepid return in Darwin.

The fuller deliveries reaped rewards, with Starc the standout and Cummins showing signs of his best after shaking off the rust in his first Test since his one-off appearance in Adelaide.

But the uncertainty created by throwing in a bumper or two played a role in the Aussies rattling through the Bangladesh batting order until the pitch started to settle after lunch.

Only a 25-run 10th wicket partnership enabled the Tigers to avoid their lowest Test score, with Shoriful Islam becoming the first No.11 to top score for a visiting team in a match in Australia before later delivering with the ball.

Healy has no doubt the decision to employ the bouncer on occasion was a factor in Australia devastating the Bangladesh top order and said it was a tactic they arguably could have used more in recent summers.

“I think it actually did help and I think it then made the full ball even more effective because I feel like every time we tried to bowl a little fuller in Darwin, they were almost ... playing it easily,” she told foxsports.com.au.

“It seemed like a real distinct shift between the Test matches to go, ‘Okay, we actually need to go up top a little bit more, just to muck up the footwork, to put it in the back of their mind that we have got pace, we are a big attack, and we can hit you in the head if we want to.’

“I think that was a really pleasing thing to watch. I mean, it is sort of sad that it took losing a Test match to almost then make them puff their chests out and say, ‘No. These are our shores. This is how we we’re going to play.’

“I definitely think it was a great tactical move, more so just from a footwork perspective because it looked like Bangladesh weren’t as assured this morning.”

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