Labuschagne’s half-century, his first in nine Test innings, was ended by Moeen shortly before tea but he believed that the help available on the first day may not last throughout the game.
“It’s going to be interesting to say this, but think it will be one of those wickets, because [it’s] been undercover for a few days it didn’t have that rock hardness, the thatchiness of the grass is spinning,” he said. “Once that wears off, think the middle of the wicket will not spin so much. The ends will rough up eventually if the weather stays good, but think it will actually spin less as the game goes on from the good part of the wicket.”
“They probably want to bat as long as they can knowing a draw is good enough for them in this game to retain the Ashes,” he said. “Ultimately when you’ve got two allrounders who both deserve to be in the team it’s a tricky decision.
“Old Trafford historically is a place you would want a spinner. Moeen bowled great today so that’s something that worried them a little bit but ultimately it looks a very dangerous team. They’ve got 300 on the board and we’ve still got 12 wickets to get in the Test so it’s been a great battle so far and we can judge that selection when two innings have gone.”
“Will I be bowling? Hopefully not, because if I’m not bowling it means we are in a pretty good spot,” he said. “But if I need to bowl I’m always ready, always working on it. Think it will be leggies with the amount of left-handers and there might be some rough there if the sun continues to stay out.”
With the bat, this series has been characterised by Labuschagne not being able to convert his starts and though that continued with 51 on Wednesday, he was more satisfied with his performance. “I was happy with my decision-making which has been the part that has really been frustrating me from a personal side,” he said.
“I can’t talk from each individual’s mental state, but from own, no it doesn’t make a difference,” he said. “My job is to come in and score runs, and score big runs, especially when I get myself in. Our whole top-order, that’s our responsibility, so if those sorts of thoughts have crept in then that’s probably on the individual to stamp that out, if it was a thing for the second innings.
“But think it gives you confidence as a player, because you bat deep and as you are able to see we were able to build partnerships there with Carey and Starc and Mitch and Greeny. Those runs are going to be vital, especially if we can get this lead up to 350. That’s going to be a pretty decent first-innings total.”