Marnus Labuschagne not fazed by Australia captaincy snub focused on batting

Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne claims that he was not disappointed that he wasn’t considered for the Test captaincy.
Pat Cummins was appointed skipper in late November after a 2018 sexting scandal ensured that Tim Paine was sacked from the position.
Labuschagne has been among Australia’s most consitent players in the red-ball game but was never seriously in contention for the role from the selectors point of view.
Despite having been stripped of the captaincy in 2018, Steve Smith was named vice-captain.
Chris Woakes wants racism and sexting scandals left out of Ashes sledging
Labuschagne has taken the snub on the chin though and backed Cummins and Smith to lead well.
“No, I wasn’t disappointed,” Labuschagne told reporters.
“I think there are two very good leaders and very good candidates. Cummins is going to do a fabulous job and he’s got plenty of support with Steve as his vice-captain and all the senior players of the group.
“My job right now is to concentrate on scoring runs consistently for Australia and I’m happy for that to be my role for now. You don’t need the title to still be a leader in the group.”
For now, Labuschagne is focused on his batting and the challenge that will be posed by the England bowlers, in particular the crafty veteran James Anderson.
“It’s going to be great fun. I really can’t wait to face Jimmy – I’ve spoken about his quality a lot … and it’s going to be a really exciting challenge,” Labuschagne said.
“I can’t tell you what they’re going to bring (in terms of tactics against him) but I can just prepare for everything that might be thrown at me.
“The target is on your back now that you’re scoring runs and you’re a main part of that team, but I’ve got great examples that I’ve seen in this generation – Williamson, Root, Smith, Warner, Kohli – those guys are consistent performers for a long period of time, so they’re really good examples of people to look up to, to see how you have to manage the pressure of continually scoring runs.”
The Ashes
Squads
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Schedule
First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba
Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval
Third Test: December 26-30, MCG
Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG
Fifth Test: January 14-18, Perth Stadium
Latest
-
News
Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler hit hundreds as England fight back in South Africa
Buttler’s men are bidding to avoid a series clean sweep and a sixth successive loss in the ODI format.
-
County Cricket
Tom Curran taking break from red-ball cricket for ‘my body and my mental health’
The 27-year-old has endured injury problems in recent years.
-
The Ashes
Olly Stone hopes to play a role in an England pace trio during this year’s Ashes
Stone hopes to play a role this summer along with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
-
England
Olly Stone ready for whatever role is required to make England World Cup squad
‘Any way in the England team, I’ll snap someone’s hand off,’ said Stone.
-
Women's Cricket
Dane van Niekerk ‘absolutely broken’ to miss World Cup over fitness standards
The South Africa captain was unable to complete a two-kilometre run in the minimum required time.
-
England
Run of defeats has not damaged England’s confidence, insists Moeen Ali
The all-rounder is confident England will be in good shape for the defence of their World Cup crown.
-
County Cricket
Lancashire sign New Zealand pair Daryl Mitchell and Colin de Grandhomme
The all-rounders will be available to play in the LV= Insurance County Championship and Vitality T20 Blast throughout the season.
-
England
Jos Buttler admits he needs to find his rhythm as England lose to South Africa
The hosts won the second ODI by five wickets to clinch the series in Bloemfontein.
-
South Africa
Temba Bavuma hits hundred as South Africa secure ODI series win over England
The Proteas chased down 343 at Bloemfontein to go 2-0 up in the three-match series.
-
England
Jos Buttler and Harry Brook give England hope of levelling ODI series
England reached 342 for seven against South Africa, with Buttler making 94 and Brook 80.