The second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia will take place at Galle from February 6 onwards. With Australia, already having booked a spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), leading 1-0, Sri Lanka would like to bow out of their most successful WTC campaign on a high.
Marnus Labuschagne has been encouraged to adopt a more aggressive strategy against India's formidable pace attack, with coach Andrew McDonald affirming that the underperforming batter is still "the player we need" at the critical No.3 position, according to cricket.com.au.
Labuschagne managed contributions of just one and two during Australia's emphatic 172-run triumph in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington and the right-hander has now failed to score more than 10 in his past three Test appearances.
Most Australian players would like some days of rest before the second Ashes Test but that may not be the case with two of the side's most consistent batters. Australia won the first Ashes Test without much contribution from this prolific pair as they could score only 35 runs among them.
London [UK], April 19 (ANI): Australia assistant coach Andrew McDonald heaped praises on middle-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne and said his growth "into that Test number three position was phenomenal".