Ashes 2022 fifth Test LIVE updates England win the toss and bowl in historic Hobart Test
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A piece I wrote yesterday, examining Marnus Labuschagne vs Mark Wood this series.
Marnus Labuschagne's batting coach Neil D'Costa says Australia's livewire No.3 cannot wait to atone for three consecutive dismissals against Mark Wood and questioned a call for him to open the batting in Tests.
Labuschagne is the leading run-scorer for the series heading into Friday's final Ashes Test in Hobart, with 286 runs at 47.66.
However, Labuschagne has been dismissed on three consecutive occasions by Wood, England's spearhead quick, for scores of 1, 28, and 29 across matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
Labuschagne has been so prolific with the willow that this is the first time since his Test cricket career began that he has been dismissed three times in a row for under 30.
Across the series, Wood has figures of 3-17 from 52 balls against Labuschagne.
"Wood is bowling fantastic and troubling right-handers in particular with that angle in and [getting the ball to cut] away," D'Costa told the Herald. "He's bowling at great speed. I think right now, guys are loving the challenge of him. Marnus can't wait to get out there and get on top of it."
READ THE FULL YARN HERE
Australia are as expected, while England have made five changes from Sydney.
No Jimmy Anderson.
Joe Root finally has the toss go his way and decides to send Australia in on a green deck in Hobart.
Pat Cummins says he also would have bowled.
It's 30 minutes later than scheduled but shouldn't affect the day too much.
A few showers today in Tasmania. Credit:BOM
Usman Khawaja's selection for the fifth Test ahead of Marcus Harris is a short-term move for Australia - and the right one. If I was a selector, I would have made the same call, but I do have concerns.
Though Harris has improved through the series, he has not appeared sound enough to demand re-selection over a player who scored a century in each innings.
A nod to Harris may have been a nod to the future but despite the series scoreline there are times when the here and now is just as important. Not every selection has to be a statement about the years ahead.
My form was terrible in the 1992-93 series against the West Indies, leading to my dropping for the Perth Test. Justin Langer, coming off a gutsy 20 and 54 on debut in Adelaide, opened in my place with David Boon, and I returned in our next game in New Zealand. As disappointed as I was not to play, it eased upon seeing Curtly Ambrose take 7-1 on a fiery WACA pitch.
For Harris, getting dropped is not as big a blow as it may appear. In some ways, selectors could be doing him a favour by not exposing him to what looks to be bowler-friendly conditions.
If he was to play here and fail twice then there would be even more pressure on selectors to make a call on his career when they pick the squad for Pakistan. Khawaja could well make runs and cement his spot as an opener, but Harris, 29, remains an option.
The juggling act for selectors is to balance the needs of the team now and for the medium-term future, while also rewarding performance.
READ MARK TAYLOR'S FULL COLUMN HERE
That's more like it.
The covers have come off in Hobart. Yep, the 'green mamba' pitch is still there and an interesting toss awaits.
Justin Langer before play. Credit:Getty
We have some unfortunate news.
The covers are on at Blundstone Arena, meaning that a toss at 2:30pm has been postponed for the time being.
On that note, get your questions in. We'll do our best to answer them today and throughout the Test.
Pat Cummins and Scott Boland mark their run-ups in Hobart. Credit:AP
We'll leave this here.
With the toss set for 2:30pm, our money is on the winning captain electing to have a bowl. Surely.
Usman Khawaja faces the ultimate test in his latest rebirth in the baggy green as Australia's batters brace for a pink ball they expect to hoop around corners in the Ashes finale.
Paceman Scott Boland is expected to take his place in the XI after bowling strongly in the nets on Thursday as Australia venture into the unknown for Hobart's first day/night Test.
The Blundstone Arena pitch was only a lighter shade of green than the other tracks on the square late on Thursday and with showers predicted for the first three days it will again be tough going for the willow wielders.
If the Test strip behaves anything like the pitches in the nets, which only had tinges of green, the slip cordon can expect to be busy.
Although not a specialist opener, Khawaja averages almost 97 at the top of the order for Australia. He played arguably his finest Test innings in that role in 2016, making 145 filling in at short notice after South Africa's early declaration under lights caught David Warner on the hop in the medical room.
But it is a position he has seldom batted in since. His last first-class game opening came in March 2020 when he promoted himself to the top for Queensland in a Twenty20-type run chase.
READ THE FULL PREVIEW FROM ANDREW WU
Usman Khawaja will open the batting for Australia in the fifth Test. Credit:Getty
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