Could McDonald Be Planning Top-Order Changes for Australia After WTC Final Loss?

New Delhi, June 15 (NationPress) Following a five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s, head coach McDonald has hinted at potential adjustments to their top-order as they begin their new cycle in the West Indies.

During the match at Lord’s, Marnus Labuschagne was shifted to open alongside Usman Khawaja, to make space for a returning Cameron Green at number three. However, this strategy faltered, as Labuschagne continued his poor performance, while Khawaja and Green also failed to deliver significant contributions.

"This was a crucial topic leading into this Test match, and I publicly discussed the necessity to solidify that opening combination. We've experienced quite a bit of musical chairs in that position, so perhaps now is the time to reassess," McDonald shared with the media on Sunday.

Labuschagne has recorded an average of just 27.82 in the ongoing 2023-25 WTC cycle, raising questions about his future selection for the series against the West Indies. Nonetheless, McDonald emphasized that he remains a vital component of the team's future.

"A player averaging 45 or 46 in Test cricket at this age is crucial. We have veteran players nearing the end of their careers and younger talents emerging. If Labuschagne can stabilize his game over the next four to five years, he could become foundational to our batting order. Yet, as of now, he must be frustrated with his results, having missed out on significant scores. We believe he can regain his form, which is why we continue to select him. At what point do we stop selecting him?" he stated.

On the topic of Khawaja, McDonald suggested he might receive a similar opportunity as David Warner did towards the conclusion of his Test career. "Khawaja is under contract; he is a key player. He provides us with stability when performing at his best. We prefer to evaluate our players based on their peak performance. Some failures in recent matches have led to speculation about his future, but I do not perceive an endpoint regarding his career based on his training and preparation. He returned to Shield cricket and scored a century last season. I believe he still has many runs left in him, which will depend on his inner motivation and preparation," he elaborated.

“It was somewhat similar with David as well. We noticed positive signs in his movement, and we were confident that runs were imminent. We feel that Usman still has a significant role to play,” he concluded.