Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Josh Hazlewood, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

After England’s dominant performance in the first three days, amassing a massive 592 in their first innings, with Zak Crawley’s impressive 189 and Jonny Bairstow’s flashy 99 not out, Australia showed resilience by ending Saturday’s play at 214-5 in their second innings, trailing by just 61 runs.

Labuschagne’s brilliance shone through as he reached his second Test century outside Australia, scoring 111, which also became his highest overseas score at this level. His crucial partnership of 103 runs with Mitchell Marsh (31 not out) added to England’s frustration, as they desperately needed a win in Manchester to keep their hopes alive for regaining the Ashes, being 2-1 down with two matches remaining.

The wicket of Labuschagne fell towards the end of the day, caught behind off Joe Root’s occasional off-spin after the umpires deemed it unsafe for England’s quick bowlers to bowl due to fading light.

Although Labuschagne had been struggling for runs before this match, his hundred on Saturday, his 11th in 42 Tests, followed his 51 in Australia’s first innings, giving him renewed confidence in his technique and batting form.

Looking ahead to the final day’s play, rain is forecast, and a draw would secure the Ashes for Australia as the current holders, irrespective of the result in the fifth and final Test at The Oval next week. Labuschagne dismissed suggestions that Australia would aim to take the lead and then attempt to bowl England out, asserting that their strategy was to let the game unfold naturally and avoid giving England any opportunities.

Meanwhile, England’s batting coach, Marcus Trescothick, praised Joe Root’s bowling performance, referring to him as a “golden arm” for occasionally surprising opponents with his off-break deliveries.

With uncertainty surrounding the weather on the final day, Trescothick acknowledged that rain is predicted, but the team would seize any opportunity to get out on the field and make the most of the game if the conditions allow.

In the Test at Edgbaston, Smith and Labuschagne could only manage a combined total of 35 runs. However, Australia emerged victorious thanks to a crucial 55-run ninth-wicket partnership between captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

McDonald stated, “They’re disappointed they missed out in this game, but I think any time the Australian cricket team can win without those two performing at a high level is always a positive.”

While acknowledging areas for improvement and growth within the team, McDonald expressed confidence in Smith and Labuschagne’s ability to bounce back. Despite being replaced by England’s Joe Root as the top-ranked Test batsman, Labuschagne faced a first-ball dismissal and scored 13 runs, while Smith, who had a remarkable 2019 series, managed only 16 and 6 runs in the two innings of the match.

McDonald emphasized that the coaching staff would offer guidance, but he expected the pair to find their own solutions during net sessions. He believed that Smith and Labuschagne, known for their problem-solving skills, would analyze England’s tactics and devise new plans.

Regarding the upcoming innings, McDonald stated, “They’ll come out pretty clear about what they need to do… But there’s no issue there.” He also mentioned that batting coach Michael Di Venuto would be involved in the process.

McDonald acknowledged the rarity of both Smith and Labuschagne experiencing failures in the same Test match, emphasizing their usual consistency and reliability.

The second Test of the five-match Ashes series is set to begin at Lord’s on June 28.

They had brief respite with the wicket of Labuschagne, who fell short of a second double ton amid his purple patch of three straight centuries. The No.1 ranked Test batter also passed 3000 Test runs in just his 51st innings with only Don Bradman reaching the landmark faster for an Australian batter.

Hometown hero Head, however, passed his highest score of 161 to continue dominating a lackluster West Indies attack much to the delight of the Adelaide Oval faithful. West Indies once again rued sloppy bowling, while skipper Kraigg Brathwaite’s tactics were rather puzzling underlined by often not implementing a gully in a conservative move.

He was generally reactionary, but a second-string attack hasn’t helped his cause. A shorthanded West Indies attack, without spearheads Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales, was further depleted with debutant quick Marquina Mindley likely out for the match after suffering a hamstring injury early on day one after bowling just two overs.

Medley had arrived in Adelaide from the Caribbean just 48 hours before the Test as injury cover. Amid their increasing woes, West Indies desperately needed a spark on day two and speedster Alzarri Joseph belatedly tried to provide one with several menacing short deliveries to test Labuschagne reminiscent of his fiery spell on day four in Perth. With the surface appearing quicker than on day one, marked by tennis ball-like bounce, Joseph frustratingly couldn’t penetrate for long enough with debutant Devon Thomas showing up the frontline bowlers.

Having taken the wicket of opener Usman Khawaja on day one, Thomas’ handy seamers again did the trick and he removed Labuschagne and then almost dismissed Cameron Green, who edged his first ball of the series in front of the slips. It was a brief bright spot for West Indies after being plundered by Labuschagne and Head, who notched their 200-run partnership on the second ball of the day’s play.

Head had capitalized on overpitched West Indies bowling en route to a rollicking first hundred in front of the home faithful. He encountered more accurate bowling early on day two and was fortunate that a rare edge sailed through the slips to the boundary. Normal service resumed with Head flamboyantly slashing over gully for consecutive boundaries as he overtook Labuschagne to reach 150 with a boundary off the innocuous spin of Roston Chase.

Labuschagne also reached the landmark before his surprise wicket, as a focused Head batted cautiously through to the break knowing he has a golden opportunity at his fingertips.

Root scored 11, unbeaten 115, 176, and 3 respectively in the four innings of the first two Tests of the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. That is, this right-handed batter took the top spot in the rankings in recent performances.

But Labuschagne’s difference in rating points with root dropping to a second place is not much. Labuschagne has a rating of 892. Labuschagne had climbed to the top of the rankings with two innings of 103 and 51 in the two innings of the Test against England in Adelaide in December last year.

Australia’s Steven Smith is third with a rating of 845. Pakistan captain Babar Azam is fourth while New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is fifth.